U.S. Senate Introduces Bill to Protect Ukrainian Refugees from War
American senators have proposed granting "temporary guest" status to Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. under the U4U program, allowing them to live and work without the threat of deportation.
Photo: Phil Roeder, CC BY 2.0
A bill aimed at protecting Ukrainian refugees who have come to the U.S. due to the war has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, according to Voice of America.
The initiative was authored by Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and several other lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The document, titled the "Act to Protect Guests During Wartime in Ukraine," proposes granting "temporary guest" status to Ukrainians who entered the U.S. under the humanitarian U4U program ("Uniting for Ukraine").
This status would allow them to remain in the country and work until the situation in Ukraine becomes safe for their return.
The proposal comes in response to a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to suspend the processing of immigration applications from Ukrainians who arrived under programs introduced during the Biden administration. This decision has raised concerns among human rights advocates and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora.
If the bill is passed, it will provide legal status to thousands of Ukrainians in the U.S. and protect them from deportation. The document now awaits discussion in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Earlier, it was reported that Donald Trump proposed an alternative to the EB-5 visa—a U.S. residency permit for investments starting at $5 million, along with a program allowing companies to obtain green cards for employees.
It was also reported that U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed trade relations, defense issues, and a potential peace agreement regarding Ukraine.