Several Ukrainians legally residing in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program were left in shock this week after receiving a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) email stating their status had been revoked. The message warned they had seven days to leave the country or face removal by the federal government.
The email, sent Thursday, claimed DHS was terminating their parole and instructed recipients not to attempt to stay in the U.S. The alarming notice triggered panic among Ukrainian refugees, many of whom fled Russia’s 2022 invasion and were granted entry under President Biden’s administration. One woman, who renewed her status last year and was cleared for two more years, said she “couldn’t breathe” and was “uncontrollably crying” after reading the message.
On Friday, DHS issued a follow-up email acknowledging the original message was sent in error. The department clarified that the Ukrainian parole program remains in place and that the initial notice does not affect any current immigration status.
Angela Boelens, president of IA NICE, a nonprofit sponsoring Ukrainian refugees in Iowa, confirmed at least two women received the erroneous email, including one who is pregnant. “It’s a very scary email,” said Boelens. “All of my families are in complete panic.”
Last month, Reuters reported that the Trump campaign was considering revoking temporary legal protections for up to 240,000 Ukrainians, signaling a sharp policy shift. However, no such policy has been officially enacted.
The mistaken email has raised serious concerns among advocacy groups and parolees, highlighting the vulnerability of humanitarian visa holders and the importance of accurate, transparent communication from federal agencies.