US has Reached its Pledge to Admit 100,000 Ukrainians

 Ukrainians Entered the United States

Since the February 24^th, 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the United States in an attempt to help Ukraine with refugees who have been displaced due to the violence, has let in at least 100,000 Ukrainian nationals. These refugees have entered the United States through various means.

Around 47,000 Ukrainians have been admitted into the U.S. on temporary or immigrant visas. Approximately 30,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered through the private sponsorship program, Uniting for Ukraine. More than 22,000 Ukrainians were let into the United States by flying into Mexico and applying for entry at the U.S.-Mexico border. Only 500 of the refugees admitted into the country have done so through the traditional refugee system.

Most Ukrainian refugees who come to the United States have been permitted entry temporarily through Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Only those individuals who have been granted entry via an immigrant visa or through the refugee admission program will be given a pathway to permanent residence and/or U.S. citizenship. Ukrainian refugees currently in the United States may have the opportunity to stay permanently if they apply for asylum.

Where are the Other Ukrainian Refugees?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that despite meeting its quota pledge, it will continue to grant safe haven to those displaced by the war in Ukraine. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process applications from private U.S. citizens looking to sponsor Ukrainian nationals through the Uniting for Ukraine private sponsorship program.

Although the United States willingly taking in so many Ukrainian nationals, the number of Ukrainians admitted into the United States is significantly smaller than in other European countries.  According to the United Nations refugee agency, the bulk of the 6 million refugees from Ukraine have sought safe haven in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Inequality in the U.S. immigration system

Despite the happy news that the United States has fulfilled its pledge to grant safe haven to Ukrainian refugees, many are arguing that individuals from Ukraine are benefiting from preferential treatment. One such privilege includes Ukrainian nationals being exempt from automatic dismissal at the U.S.-Mexico border by Title 42. Unlike other asylum-seekers from Latin America and the Caribbean, Ukrainian nationals can not be turned away by the restrictive pandemic-era policy and can be admitted entry into the U.S. based on humanitarian grounds.

In addition, many critics have argued that Ukrainian nationals have been prioritized over Afghan refugees who fled their home country due to the Taliban taking over and are currently waiting to be re-settled in the United States.