BILL: Should Ukrainian Refugees Be Eligible for PR? - Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2023 - H.R.3911
Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill
The Bill
H.R.3911 - Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2023
Bill Status
- Sponsored by Rep. William R. Keating (D-Mass.) on June 7, 2023
- Bipartisan support from Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).
- Committees: House - Judiciary
- House: Not yet voted
- Senate: Not yet voted
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
- Provides for the adjustment of the status of nationals of Ukraine, many of whom are wrestling with their legal status in the U.S.
- Grants permanent residency rights to thousands of Ukrainians who have entered the U.S. since 2014. This would allow them to work, contribute to society, and maintain a stable life in the U.S. until they can return home.
- Over 7 million Ukrainians have fled the country since the Russian invasion, many coming to the U.S.
What's in the Bill?
Supports refugees
- Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, over 113,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered the U.S. under the Uniting for Ukraine private refugee sponsorship program. The program allows eligible Ukrainians to live and work in the U.S. for up to two years.
- Before the Uniting for Ukraine program, thousands of Ukrainians traveled to Mexico, where it was easier to obtain a visa, and then tried crossing the border.
- The program has been successful but has led to questions about what happens after the two-year visa expires in 2024. Currently, participants could be subject to deportation or unable to work legally. Ukrainian workers' impending loss of work authorization could make employers reluctant to hire them.
Extends permanent residence status to qualifying Ukrainian refugees
- The Secretary of Homeland Security will adjust the status of eligible Ukrainians if they apply.
- Their application must be in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
- The Secretary of Homeland Security also needs to determine that the adjustment of the status of the eligible Ukrainian national is not contrary to the national welfare, safety, or security of the U.S.
What Supporters are Saying
- Sponsor Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.) said:
"As many Ukrainians fled the terror of Russia's attacks, the U.S. provided a safe haven for them. And part of that safe haven must be the stability and assurance that they will be able to reside in this country legally, without fear of deportation, until they are ready to return home. This is achieved through the Ukrainian Adjustment Act by providing Ukrainians in the U.S. with permanent residency status."
"The Ukrainian Adjustment Act builds on our work to aid Ukrainian refugees. These individuals have fled their homes and their families in the hopes of maintaining their freedom. They need our support and the chance to begin building a new life here in America."
What Opponents are Saying
- Some observers believe it is unfair to refugees fleeing conflict, war, and oppression in other countries, like Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
- Rep. Quigley addressed this concern:
"Let this serve as a reminder that Ukrainian refugees are not the only group in need of permanent status. Those who aided our efforts in Afghanistan and have since fled are still waiting nearly two years after the withdrawal. Ukrainian and Afghan refugees have overcome immeasurable odds and devastation—they both deserve our help."
Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
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Our Congress has FAILED to come up with an Immigration policy, so just open all the gates and allow anyone into this country.
As they fled from a country being attacked by a foreign despot who ordered a building bombed that he knew contained orphans and killed them all, I think it's safe to say that they fled for a good reason.
As such, I DO think they should get full citizenship.
Ukrainians love their country and are fighting for their freedom
they are not looking to relocate permanently - simply need temporary shelter until the war is resolved
if not, only then should this be considered
until then don't muck up their system because every able bodied person will be required to rebuild the country
and there are more than sufficient forfeited russian assets to fund a robust financing of this rebuild
the best assistance the US and EU can render apart from robust defense supplies and training is accelerated resolutions through international courts of these crimes so frozen funds can be rapidly deployed to compensate for damages
congress is prone to indulge in knee jerk reactions that create theater for their political benefit regardless of the consequences
our track record of rectification / rebuilding nations is not a healthy one! assimilating Ukrainians here is akin to destroying two stones with one bird!
YES!!!! However, the same considerations should be provided to others who are fleeing war-torn countries.
The Ukrainian Adjustment Act is Bipartisan Legislation that allows Ukrainians living in the U.S. since 2014 due to the war to have with permanent residency status, which allows them to work, contribute to society, and maintain a stable life in the U.S. until they are able to return home similar to the Venezuelan Adjustment Act.
Ukrainians arrived in the US under the U4U program with US sponsors but is temporary (2years only) so is being extended as some have no houses, no jobs and/or cities to return to, and live in limbo in the US.
"The U4U program allows Ukrainians with willing U.S. sponsors to fly directly to the U.S. and stay and work for up to two years under what’s known as humanitarian parole."
"According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of April 18, the department had received approximately 238,000 requests from individuals in the U.S. who wanted to sponsor a Ukrainian citizen as part of the program, and around 125,000 have entered the U.S. through U4U. (More than 179,000 additional Ukrainians have also been permitted to enter the country outside of U4U, such as by requesting to enter via the U.S.-Mexico border or through other visas, according to DHS.)"
https://rollcall.com/2023/04/21/ukrainians-in-us-anxious-about-protections-as-war-wages-on/
I'm not opposed to this, as Ukraine has been under constant attack from Russia for nearly 10 years and these residents should be allowed to flourish here safely.
However, I would have been ok with a special protected temporary status so that they could return to Ukraine when war is over if they so choose.
Either way, we should allow these refugees to stay and work and prosper safely here in our country until they so choose to leave.
I can't say "yes," and I can't say "no."
Our major cities are already far beyond overcrowded and resources for emergency immigrant support are severely limited or already gone.
For better or worse, we don't have a policy that directs immigrants based on degrees or skill sets needed by cities.
Yet, Ukrainian need help.
We could task urban planners to come up with ideas if they haven't already. Seeing what family and friends were assigned at the graduate level, I am confident that reasonable solutions are possible. However, the funding would have to come from local, state, and federal governments, as well as private enterprises. I think that even some legislators will see the potential of long-term investment for certain classes of donors as well as their constituents.
Recall: Certain cities are in need of renewal as they once thrived but conditions changed.
As to the immediate needs of Ukrainian Immigrants, given our current political climate, it is going to be very difficult at best.