Donald Trump’s administration has acknowledged and apologized after it says it accidentally sent mails to some Ukrainian refugees, fleeing their country’s invasion by Russia, that they needed to leave the US because their legal status was being revoked.
About 240,000 Ukrainians have been settled in the US as part of the Uniting for Ukraine – or U4U – program launched during Joe Biden’s presidency. But according to CBS News, some resettled Ukrainians received emails this week telling them that the US Department of Homeland Security would be terminating their legal protections.
“DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole,” read the notice dated 3 April, referring to the temporary legal status (TPS) granted to Ukrainians after Russia invaded its neighbouring state. “Unless it expires sooner, your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice.”
Also Read: Trump administration sends emails ordering Ukrainians to leave
If recipients failed to leave the US, the message warned, they would “be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States” and encouraged the recipients to sign up for self-deportation.
“Do not attempt to remain in the United States – the federal government will find you,” the notice warned. “Please depart the United States immediately.”
Retracting the erroneous mails, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday that it "accidentally" sent the email on Thursday.
According to a report by The Guardian, the DHS said in a statement on Friday that the notice had been sent in error to some Ukrainians under the U4U program. “The U4U parole program has not been terminated,” the DHS statement read. And the missive had been corrected with a follow-up message that said: “No action will be taken with respect to your parole.”
It further stated that "the terms of your parole as originally issued remain unchanged at this time."
The rescinded notice caused panic with Ukrainians in the US who have been widely fearing that they could face the same cancellations affecting those of other nationalities.
So far, the Ukraine nationals have not been caught up in the cancellation of Biden administration immigration programs that include Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. They have been ordered by Trump administration to self-deport by April 24.
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