Trump Signals Ukrainians Can Stay—for Now
Amid crackdown on humanitarian parole, president offers tentative protection for 240,000 Ukrainians displaced by war
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump indicated this week that Ukrainian refugees in the United States will likely be allowed to remain until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ends, offering temporary reassurance to approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who have fled the conflict since February 2022.
“I think we will, yes, I will,” Trump told DW’s Misha Komadovsky when asked if he would permit Ukrainians who escaped the war to stay in the U.S. “We have a lot of people that came in from Ukraine, and we’re working with them,” he added.
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The comments, made in Washington, come as the Trump administration has intensified efforts to curb irregular migration and asylum claims. On January 20, Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to “terminate all categorical parole programs,” including the “Uniting for Ukraine” (U4U) initiative launched under former President Joe Biden, which has supported Ukrainian arrivals.
The status of Ukrainian refugees has been uncertain, with Reuters reporting in March that a decision was forthcoming. At the time, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “We’re not looking to hurt anybody, we’re certainly not looking to hurt them, and I’m looking at that. There were some people that think it’s appropriate, and some people don’t, and I’ll be making the decision pretty soon.”
In May, The Washington Post reported that the administration was considering reallocating $250 million in foreign aid to repatriate individuals from conflict zones, including about 200,000 Ukrainians. However, Trump’s recent remarks to DW suggest a shift, indicating that Ukrainians may be permitted to stay for now.
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The decision provides temporary relief for Ukrainian nationals navigating uncertain residency prospects in the U.S. amid ongoing global tensions. Further details on the policy’s implementation remain unclear.
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