As early as April, President Trump plans to revoke the legal status of over 240,000 Ukrainian refugees, a move that would fundamentally alter the course of US-Ukraine relations amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Deportations could be accelerated as early as April due to the policy change. A larger initiative to deny legal status to roughly 1.8 million migrants includes this action. The action impacts a number of humanitarian parole initiatives put in place under Biden’s administration.
Trump’s Executive Order Targets Ukrainian Refugees
The Trump administration has initiated plans to revoke the legal status of more than 240,000 Ukrainians who fled their homeland following Russia’s invasion. According to multiple reports, the administration is moving forward with this rollback as part of broader immigration policy changes. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to make any official announcement regarding the plan, though internal documents indicate preparations are underway for implementation as early as April.
The revocation follows a January 20 executive order from President Trump calling for the “terminate all categorical parole programs” that were established during the Biden administration. These programs provided temporary legal pathways for vulnerable populations seeking humanitarian relief in the United States, including those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump to Kick Out Ukrainian Refugees
Trump's team is gearing up to deport 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the U.S. Legal status? Gone. – Reuters pic.twitter.com/pZCiYumrGn
— Truth Seeker (@mib_63) March 6, 2025
Broader Impact on Immigration Policy
The Ukrainian repatriation initiative is part of a more extensive effort targeting approximately 1.8 million migrants who received protected status through various humanitarian parole programs. Beyond Ukrainians, the rollback affects roughly 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, as well as over 70,000 Afghans who were granted entry following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. These programs were established as temporary measures to provide legal pathways for individuals facing extraordinary circumstances in their home countries.
Internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) communications indicate that migrants losing parole status could face expedited deportation. Particularly vulnerable are those who entered through legal ports of entry without formal admission, as they face no time limits on rapid removal procedures, unlike those who crossed the border illegally and have been in the country for more than two years.
Trump to revoke legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians as US steps up deportations.
Source: Reuters https://t.co/hLndsCJSBR— Roberto (@UniqueMongolia) March 6, 2025
Timing and Diplomatic Implications
The rollback was reportedly already in progress before President Trump’s recent public meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which observers characterized as tense. The timing has nonetheless raised questions about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict with Russia. For Ukrainians who sought temporary refuge in the United States, the policy change creates immediate uncertainty about their future.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to end these humanitarian initiatives, arguing they exceeded legal boundaries established by U.S. immigration law. In response to the administration’s actions, a coalition of advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit challenging the termination of these programs, seeking to restore humanitarian protections for affected populations. The outcome of this legal challenge could determine the fate of hundreds of thousands of individuals who sought safety in the United States.