Rep. Baumgartner asks Trump to safeguard Ukrainian refugees amid Homeland Security error
Apr 9, 2025, 5:00 AM
Ukrainian volunteer Oleksandr Osetynskyi, 44 holds a Ukrainian flag and directs hundreds of refugees after fleeing from the Ukraine and arriving at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Monday, March 7, 2022. (File photo: Visar Kryeziu, AP)
(File photo: Visar Kryeziu, AP)
Spokane Rep. Michael Baumgartner is urging President Donald Trump to keep protections for the estimated 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion to the U.S., reported The Spokesman-Review.
On Monday, Republican Rep. Baumgartner led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to the White House after the Department of Homeland Security mistakenly informed Ukrainian refugees that their humanitarian parole status had been revoked.
“Revoking these protections while the war remains unresolved would be devastating, both for individuals who have sought refuge and for the broader moral obligations we have as a nation,” Baumgartner said. “I’m encouraged to see bipartisan cooperation, advocating to ensure these individuals can remain safe and secure in the United States.”
Protections for Ukrainian refugees
Washington has welcomed approximately 30,000 Ukrainians since the war began in 2022, according to Baumgartner’s office.
The White House confirmed the message was a mistake. However, around 2,900 Ukrainians had already been preparing to leave, as the White House had previously indicated plans to end temporary refugee protections.
While the U.S. has not yet ended the temporary parole status granted under Biden, the White House has signaled a possible reversal, which could lead to deportations. Trump has said he’s considering revoking Ukrainians’ status but has not made a final decision.
