AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UKRAINIANS SAY THEIR RAVAGED COUNTRY IS WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO, AS A RESULT OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION. MANY FLED TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE PITTSBURGH AREA UNDER THE HUMANITARIAN PAROLE PROGRAM CALLED UNITING FOR UKRAINE. IT’S A TWO YEAR PROGRAM, AND NOW MANY OF THEM SAY THAT THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL TO REMAIN HERE HAVE NOT BEEN PROCESSED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IT’S CAUSING CONCERN. IF THEY ARE NOT HERE LEGALLY, THEY COULD BE DEPORTED. WHAT IS LIKELIER TO HAPPEN? THEY WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS IN SOME STATES. THEY LOSE THE PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. KATE THISTLE SPONSORS UKRAINIAN FAMILY IN PITTSBURGH. SHE JOINED A DELEGATION OF OTHER UKRAINIAN SPONSORS TO MEET WITH CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK. WITHOUT REFUGEE RENEWAL STATUS APPROVED, THEY CANNOT WORK AND FACE POSSIBLE DEPORTATION. ANOTHER SPONSOR OF UKRAINIANS IN PITTSBURGH REAFFIRMS THE CONCERN, AND SO THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT. THEY YOU KNOW, IT’S HARD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. THEY’RE GREAT PEOPLE. AND TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM, IT’S IT’S REALLY DISHEARTENING. THISTLE SAYS UKRAINIAN SPONSORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ASKED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO PRESSURE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS. THE MESSAGE WAS THESE PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR LEGAL STATUS AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEND CIVILIANS BACK TO THE WAR ZONE OF UKRAINE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SPOKE OUT ON THE MATTER ON WEDNESDAY OF LAST WEEK, SAYING THAT THE PROCESS IS STILL ON HOLD UNTIL IDENTITY FRAUD, PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS ARE PROPERLY VETTED. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY IN
Ukrainian refugees and Pittsburgh-area sponsors fear the worst outcome as applications for renewal stall
Updated: 7:06 PM EDT Jul 21, 2025
Many Ukrainians in the Pittsburgh area, and across the country, are here on a temporary basis through a humanitarian parole program called Uniting for Ukraine.It is a program that allows them up to two years of refugee status due to the Russian invasion in their homeland.However, time is expiring under the conditions of that program for many of the displaced Ukrainians, and there’s mounting concern that the Trump administration has stalled the application renewal process for them to remain here.Their fear is deportation, and revocation of work permits as the deadline approaches.Last week, a delegation of U.S. sponsors of Ukrainians petitioned members of Congress about the stalled process. Kate Fissell, of Pittsburgh, was part of that delegation.”The message was these people are about to lose their legal status, and nobody wants to send civilians back to the war zone of Ukraine,” Fissell said. Some local sponsors say a few Ukrainians have already self-deported, while others are facing hardship without the ability to work.”And so they’re not able to pay their rent, it’s hard for them to put food on the table,” said Rachele Paulone, another Ukrainian sponsor. “They’re great people and to have this happen to them is disheartening.”A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security addressed the matter Wednesday, saying a pause in the program will remain in place, “pending the completion of additional vetting to identity any fraud, public safety, or national security concerns.”
PITTSBURGH —
Many Ukrainians in the Pittsburgh area, and across the country, are here on a temporary basis through a humanitarian parole program called Uniting for Ukraine.
It is a program that allows them up to two years of refugee status due to the Russian invasion in their homeland.
However, time is expiring under the conditions of that program for many of the displaced Ukrainians, and there’s mounting concern that the Trump administration has stalled the application renewal process for them to remain here.
Their fear is deportation, and revocation of work permits as the deadline approaches.
Last week, a delegation of U.S. sponsors of Ukrainians petitioned members of Congress about the stalled process. Kate Fissell, of Pittsburgh, was part of that delegation.
“The message was these people are about to lose their legal status, and nobody wants to send civilians back to the war zone of Ukraine,” Fissell said.
Some local sponsors say a few Ukrainians have already self-deported, while others are facing hardship without the ability to work.
“And so they’re not able to pay their rent, it’s hard for them to put food on the table,” said Rachele Paulone, another Ukrainian sponsor. “They’re great people and to have this happen to them is disheartening.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security addressed the matter Wednesday, saying a pause in the program will remain in place, “pending the completion of additional vetting to identity any fraud, public safety, or national security concerns.”