What my Ukrainian student and her family are going through. Reuters reporting.
Nearly 200,000 Ukrainians in US thrown into legal limbo by Trump immigration crackdown
https://archive.is/izxz0
Our representative is quoted in the article. My student has already reached out to ask for his help in ascertaining the status of their re-parole applications, and she's asked me (as a voting constituent) to contact his office as well.
This is an excerpt from the letter she sent to our congressman's office office.
My family and I moved to the United States in March 2023, under the U4U program, legally and with all proper documentation. We are from Crimea—Ukrainian Crimea—which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Those years of occupation were extremely difficult for my family. Schools and kindergartens forced children into Russian indoctrination; families were pressured to take Russian citizenship under the threat of losing access to education, healthcare, and employment. Ukrainian language and culture were suppressed, but we did our best to preserve them and to continue supporting Ukraine discreetly.
After 2022, everything changed dramatically. For even a small word of disagreement with the occupation authorities, people began receiving prison sentences of 5–15 years under Russia’s so-called “law against discrediting the military.” I never planned to immigrate, but the situation forced us to seek safety, fairness, and the rule of law. Moving to the United States was a very difficult decision, but we were ready for hard work and to contribute positively to our new community.
My husband is a skilled plumber and has received strong recommendations from his workplace. He also frequently provides his services for churches and charitable organizations such as the X. I received a WIOA grant from the Job Center to study at ITExpert School and make a transition into a new career. I am proud of my children as well. My older son, despite the language barrier, has been accepted into AP History, Honors Math, and Honors Physics, and he also participates in community service. My younger son is very friendly, helps his teacher with classmates who speak Ukrainian or Russian, and is a promising taekwondo athlete, already winning two gold medals and other awards.
Our family is determined to contribute fairly and fully to the U.S. community, economy, and society, always respecting law and order. All we ask is for your help in securing our legal status and work authorization permits sooner (since ours have expired), so that we can continue building our future here and giving back.
Thank you very much for considering this request.
Yea, these are the people who need to be deported.
