US heightens scrutiny on Ukrainian migrants, reports media
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has allegedly prohibited certain migrants, including Ukrainians, from changing their protection status. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Immigration authorities are apparently investigating beneficiaries of programs established during the Biden administration for potential fraud.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reportedly stopped processing applications for benefits from migrants who entered the country under special programs initiated during President Joe Biden's tenure. This decision impacts tens of thousands of Ukrainians and effectively limits their options for other protective statuses, according to CBS News.
The previous administration used presidential parole to allow legal entry for specific groups considered vulnerable or beneficial to the U.S. Upon taking office last month, President Donald Trump suspended these programs. One such initiative for Ukrainians, known as Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), allowed over 117,000 individuals to enter the U.S. by mid-2023.
A memo dated February 14 from acting USCIS Deputy Director Andrew Davidson, which was cited by CBS, orders an agency-wide “administrative pause” on all “pending benefit requests” from individuals who entered the U.S. under U4U and two similar parole programs for Latin Americans and Caribbean nationals.
These initiatives required American sponsorship for applicants prior to entry and typically provided temporary work and residency permits. Davidson's directive removes the option to seek other legal statuses, including permanent Green Card residency, potentially exposing recipients to deportation, CBS noted.
Davidson expressed apprehension regarding widespread fraud and the lack of investigation into potential public safety risks associated with the three programs. He mentioned the Biden administration’s decision last year to temporarily halt the CHNV initiative, which served Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Investigators found thousands of CHNV applications with “serial sponsors” and other questionable information, with some cases confirmed as fraudulent, Davidson stated. The memo also indicated that some migrants were not “fully vetted.” The reported pause may be lifted after a “comprehensive review and evaluation” of the affected population.
Trump's 2024 presidential election campaign includes a commitment to confront mass migration at the southern border and implement extensive deportations of individuals living illegally in the U.S. Suspending categorical parole programs aligns with his administration's strategy to achieve these goals.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reportedly stopped processing applications for benefits from migrants who entered the country under special programs initiated during President Joe Biden's tenure. This decision impacts tens of thousands of Ukrainians and effectively limits their options for other protective statuses, according to CBS News.
The previous administration used presidential parole to allow legal entry for specific groups considered vulnerable or beneficial to the U.S. Upon taking office last month, President Donald Trump suspended these programs. One such initiative for Ukrainians, known as Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), allowed over 117,000 individuals to enter the U.S. by mid-2023.
A memo dated February 14 from acting USCIS Deputy Director Andrew Davidson, which was cited by CBS, orders an agency-wide “administrative pause” on all “pending benefit requests” from individuals who entered the U.S. under U4U and two similar parole programs for Latin Americans and Caribbean nationals.
These initiatives required American sponsorship for applicants prior to entry and typically provided temporary work and residency permits. Davidson's directive removes the option to seek other legal statuses, including permanent Green Card residency, potentially exposing recipients to deportation, CBS noted.
Davidson expressed apprehension regarding widespread fraud and the lack of investigation into potential public safety risks associated with the three programs. He mentioned the Biden administration’s decision last year to temporarily halt the CHNV initiative, which served Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Investigators found thousands of CHNV applications with “serial sponsors” and other questionable information, with some cases confirmed as fraudulent, Davidson stated. The memo also indicated that some migrants were not “fully vetted.” The reported pause may be lifted after a “comprehensive review and evaluation” of the affected population.
Trump's 2024 presidential election campaign includes a commitment to confront mass migration at the southern border and implement extensive deportations of individuals living illegally in the U.S. Suspending categorical parole programs aligns with his administration's strategy to achieve these goals.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
