Donald Trump issued executive orders aimed at tackling illegal immigration earlier this week
US officials have paused several immigration programs, including those allowing Ukrainians to temporarily settle in the country, as part of President Donald Trump’s border security crackdown, the New York Times reported on Friday. According to the report, a directive by a senior US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official on Thursday, halted “final decisions” on applications for the programs while they undergo review.
The directive reportedly covers humanitarian parole programs introduced during the Biden administration which allowed approved migrants to stay in the US for up to two years, obtain work permits, and avoid deportation. The programs affected include Uniting for Ukraine, an initiative that has allowed more than 150,000 Ukrainians to enter the US with financial sponsorship as of September 2023, according to government data.
Other suspended initiatives include humanitarian parole programs for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, which have collectively admitted over 500,000 migrants since late 2022.
The directive also impacts family reunification programs and an initiative for Central American minors with family members in the US. A USCIS spokesperson confirmed the directive’s existence to the New York Times but declined to provide further comment on its details.
The halt follows an executive order signed by Trump on Monday directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “terminate all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the US” and to review remaining cases for compliance with US law. Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued additional directives the same day to end broad applications of humanitarian parole and revert to case-by-case assessments.
“This action will return the humanitarian parole program to its original purpose of looking at migrants on a case-by-case basis… Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a DHS spokesperson explained.
Trump has consistently pledged to take swift action on illegal immigration. After his inauguration on Monday, the president signed a series of executive orders aimed at strengthening border security, including declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and ending automatic birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are not lawful permanent US residents.
READ MORE: US suspends aid to Ukraine – Politico
Also on Monday, Trump has ordered a full review of all US foreign assistance, including that designated for Ukraine. Following the order, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio froze nearly all grants to Ukraine for 90 days, from development assistance to military aid, according to media reports. Trump has repeatedly criticized US foreign assistance to countries including Ukraine during his reelection campaign, promising to ease the burden it puts on the American taxpayer upon his return to office.
