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US Halts ‘United for Ukraine’ Refugee Program Amid Immigration Policy Changes
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the suspension of the United for Ukraine (U4U) program, which has provided a pathway for Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia’s war to enter the United States, Voice of America reported on January 28.
“In accordance with the executive order 'Protecting Our Borders, ' signed on January 20, 2025, USCIS is suspending the acceptance of Form I-134A, the online request for support and declaration of financial sponsorship,” the agency stated.
The program’s suspension will remain in effect until all pending applications have been processed, according to the statement.
The suspension follows the January 20 executive order signed by US President Donald Trump titled “Protecting Our Borders.” The order instructed the DHS secretary to revise asylum programs and halt those deemed inconsistent with US immigration policy.
The decision sparked backlash from advocacy groups, including the Washington State Council of Ukrainian Christian Churches, which urged Trump to maintain refugee programs like U4U and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians.
“United for Ukraine (U4U) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) remain critically necessary for Ukrainian families,” the Council stated.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, U4U has facilitated the entry of over 118,000 Ukrainians into the US by March 2023. Additionally, approximately 25,000 Ukrainians entered the US early in the full-scale invasion through land border crossings with Mexico.
Earlier, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ukraine received instructions to halt all projects and related expenditures. The directive follows an order from the US State Department to pause international aid programs for a 90-day audit.
