Reps. Crow, Golden Lead Push to Expedite US Immigration Status for Ukrainians

WASHINGTON – Representatives Jason Crow (CO-06) and Jared Golden (ME-02) were joined by a group of six other members in a push to expand and expedite immigration status for Ukrainians fleeing Vladimir Putin's cruel and unprovoked war in Ukraine. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Members make four requests of the Administration that would achieve these goals, including:

• Allowing Ukrainians to enter the United States as refugees or under humanitarian parole;
• Expediting those applications for refugee status or humanitarian parole;
• Eliminating student visa wait times so Ukrainian students can relocate immediately; and
• Temporarily using the DHS automated vetting system for Ukrainians applying for humanitarian parole

Joining Crow and Golden on the letter were Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Jim Himes (CT-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), John Garamendi (CA-03), and Seth Moulton (MA-06).

"We write to call attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that to date has forced over 3 million Ukrainians to flee their homeland," wrote the Members. "We believe the U.S. can and should do much more to share responsibility and show solidarity with our EU allies and the Ukrainian people. The Administration has additional immediate tools at its disposal that we ask you to consider using."

"Congress stands ready to work hand in hand with you to ensure that we provide any additional resources necessary to address the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since WWII," the Members continued.

This letter comes as a reported 3.5 million Ukrainians have left the country and at least 6.5 million have been internally displaced as Putin continues his unprecedented attacks on civilians.

In addition to their recommendations, the Members thank the Biden Administration for its ongoing leadership on this issue by signing the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, providing $4 billion to address the needs of refugees who have fled Ukraine or displaced within Ukraine, $2.65 billion through USAID's International Disaster Assistance program to provide emergency food assistance, health care, and other urgent support, and $1.4 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance to support refugees fleeing Ukraine. The Members also recognize that the Administration has announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months that will protect tens of thousands of people already in the United States from returning to the war and humanitarian disaster in Ukraine.

See the full text of the letter here and below.

Dear Secretary Antony Blinken and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:

We write to call attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that to date has forced over 3.5 million Ukrainians to flee their homeland. First, we want to thank the Biden Administration for showing leadership by signing the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022 which provides $4 billion to address the needs of refugees who have fled Ukraine or displaced within Ukraine, $2.65 billion through USAID's International Disaster Assistance program to provide emergency food assistance, health care, and other urgent support and $1.4 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance to support refugees fleeing Ukraine. In addition, domestically the Administration announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months that will protect tens of thousands of people in the United States from returning to the war and humanitarian disaster in Ukraine.

However, we believe the U.S. can and should do much more to share responsibility and show solidarity with our EU allies and the Ukrainian people. The Administration has additional immediate tools at its disposal that we ask you to consider using.

Expedite relocation: Ukrainians with pending immigrant visa applications and family in the U.S. should be expedited and able to enter the U.S. as refugees. Another alternative is that they could be paroled into the U.S. to await their visa numbers. There is precedent for both options. For example, Iraqis were allowed to apply for refugee status as beneficiaries of filed I-130 family immigration petitions. In addition, under the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program, after natural disasters devastated Haiti, if granted parole, Haitians with pending immigration petitions were permitted to reside in the United States with their loved ones and wait for their visa numbers to be processed.

Expedite applications: The Administration should expedite refugee applications for Ukrainians who have applications pending under the Lautenberg program for Ukrainian religious minorities with first degree relatives in the U.S. According to the Department of State, there are currently 16,717 open Lautenberg cases for people still in Ukraine. These applicants should be immediately paroled in the U.S. where they can complete refugee processing and adjudication. There is precedent for such a practice. In 1999, the Clinton Administration expeditiously commenced the adjudication of Kosovar refugee applications in Macedonia, paroled the applicants into the United States, and completed the refugee adjudications in the United States.

Eliminate student visas wait times: The 120-day advance limit on a new student visa and the 30-day limit on travel before the start date should be waived for new Ukrainian students entering the U.S for study. These students should be able to receive a student visa and travel immediately upon adjudication of their application.

Use the DHS automated vetting system: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated, online immigration process that can take parolees information and provide travel approval within just 72 hours. While the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is normally restricted to Visa Waiver Program countries, DHS can allow Ukrainians to temporarily use the system to receive authorization to travel in order to receive humanitarian parole. ESTA has the capacity to inexpensively and securely process a high volume of parole applicants each month.

We ask that your agencies work together to expeditiously implement these important lifesaving recommendations. Congress stands ready to work hand in hand with you to ensure that we provide any additional resources necessary to address the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since WWII.

Sincerely,

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