Trump administration halts immigration applications for Ukrainians amid policy review

The Trump administration has temporarily frozen immigration applications for Ukrainians who arrived in the US under a Biden-era program, citing fraud and security concerns. The decision affects thousands of Ukrainian immigrants who came through the Uniting for Ukraine program, which provided a safe haven to those fleeing Russia’s invasion, according to CBS.

The application pause, outlined in a memo from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), means that Ukrainians who were seeking legal residency, work permits, or asylum will now face uncertainty about their status. Many had applied for programs such as Temporary Protected Status and green cards, but their cases will no longer be processed under the new directive.

“This effectively freezes their ability to move into another legal status,” said immigration expert Lynden Melmed, warning that affected migrants could become vulnerable to deportation if their temporary parole expires.

The Trump administration has previously taken steps to limit Biden-era immigration policies, suspending new entries under Uniting for Ukraine and similar programs for migrants from Latin America. The USCIS memo suggests the pause could be lifted after a full review, but no timeline has been provided.