US deports first Ukrainian refugees
19 August 21:55
on August 19, 2025, the United States officially announced the deportation of Ukrainian refugees for the first time. This was reported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the agency, a group of Ukrainian citizens has already been returned to their homeland.
“Here are photos of the first minutes of the Ukrainian foreigners’ stay in their homeland after their removal from the United States,” ICE said.
The number of deportees is not specified.
Who is under threat
Earlier it was reported that about 120 thousand Ukrainian refugees in the United States may lose legal protection after August 15, if the Donald Trump administration does not decide to extend the Unite for Ukraine (U4U) program.
We are talking about Ukrainians who entered the United States under a humanitarian password. It gave them the right to live and work for two years. For many, this period has already expired, and without an extension of the program, their stay in the country is considered illegal.
Reaction of the Ukrainian community
Ukrainian diaspora organizations in the United States have called on the Trump administration to prevent mass deportations and find a legal solution to extend protection. According to them, the expulsion of Ukrainians during a full-scale war in Ukraine contradicts the US humanitarian obligations.
What is known about the U4U program
The Unite for Ukraine program was introduced in April 2022 as a temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war. It allowed them to come to the United States under a simplified procedure and gain access to work, education, and medical care. Over 180,000 Ukrainians have come to the country since its inception.
However, the program was initially limited in time and did not guarantee long-term refugee status or permanent residence.
What’s next
Human rights advocates emphasize that the first deportations could signal a larger campaign of evictions. If the White House does not decide to extend or replace the U4U program, tens of thousands of Ukrainians risk being left without legal status in the coming months.
