Trump Administration
Multiple Ukrainians legally residing in the United States under a humanitarian parole program were thrown into panic this week after receiving a disturbing email from the U.S. government, falsely informing them that their legal status had been revoked.
The email, sent on Thursday, warned recipients that they had only seven days to leave the country or face law enforcement action and removal by federal authorities.
“If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States,” the message stated. “Again, DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States.”
The recipients of this email are part of a humanitarian parole program established in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which allowed thousands of Ukrainians to seek safety and refuge in the United States.
The alarming notice triggered widespread confusion and fear among the Ukrainian community, many of whom believed they had complied fully with immigration requirements.
One Ukrainian woman, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation from the U.S. government, described her reaction upon receiving the email. “I couldn’t breathe normally and was uncontrollably crying,” she said.
She had renewed her status in August and had been assured that her parole was valid for another two years. “I don’t have as much as a parking ticket, don’t post on social media,” she added, struggling to understand why she had been targeted.
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the email had been sent in error and that there had been no change to the parole program for Ukrainians. “The terms of your parole as originally issued remain unchanged at this time,” the DHS clarified in a follow-up message.
While it remains unclear how many individuals received the erroneous notice, the impact was immediate and deeply unsettling.
Angela Boelens, president of IA NICE, an Iowa-based nonprofit that sponsors Ukrainian families, said she knew of at least two women who received the notice—one of whom is pregnant. “It’s a very scary email.
All of my families are in complete panic,” she said. “I had been telling people they would have time after a revocation notice. But this letter is very different.”
The incident follows a recent Reuters report indicating that the Trump administration is considering revoking temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians. Such a move would mark a stark shift from the welcoming policies previously upheld under President Joe Biden.
As of now, the humanitarian parole program remains in place, but the erroneous message has already caused fear and uncertainty among vulnerable individuals who believed they were safe.
