In brief
Denys, a Ukrainian refugee, escaped the war in Ukraine and relocated his family to Spokane, Washington, through the Uniting for Ukraine program. After losing his job due to halted work authorization renewals under the Trump administration, Denys is now grappling with uncertainty and financial strain while advocating for legal work rights amidst ongoing changes in U.S. immigration policy. Many Ukrainian immigrants are similarly affected as they navigate a complex and changing immigration landscape.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The first time Denys's children heard fireworks go off in Spokane, they were terrified. Having grown up about 20 miles from the Russian border in Kharkiv, Ukraine, they were all too familiar with the sounds of war.
In 2023, after an attack on a local hospital where his youngest daughter, Olivia, was born, Denys sought a way to escape. A call from a former neighbor in the U.S. introduced him to the Uniting for Ukraine program, which offers a path to safety for Ukrainians fleeing war.
Denys embraced the opportunity, relocating to Spokane with his family. Initially integrating well into the community, he learned English and found a job in manufacturing. However, he recently lost his job due to policy changes that halted renewals of work authorization, leaving him anxious about supporting his family of five.
The Uniting for Ukraine program was established under President Joe Biden to provide temporary refuge and work opportunities for Ukrainian immigrants for two years at a time. Recently, however, federal processes have stalled, particularly with the Trump administration’s focus on revoking humanitarian protections.
“I’m very worried about my family,” Denys said. “I need to buy food. I have three kids.” His situation reflects a broader crisis facing hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants adjusting to new lives in the U.S. as they face the loss of jobs and legal hurdles.
Spokane has been a haven for Ukrainian immigrants since the fall of the Soviet Union, with a surge in new arrivals following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yet, the latest political developments complicate their stability.
Many immigrant families are left choosing between adhering to immigration laws or seeking work illegally in order to survive. “There’s this no man’s land,” said local immigration attorney Sam Smith, addressing the precarious situation many find themselves in.
Denys's employer remarked on his work ethic and reliability, expressing concern over the loss of a skilled worker directly because of policy changes. Frustration mounts as local professionals advocate for their immigrant colleagues but find little recourse in navigating the complex immigration system.
As the legal landscape shifts, many immigrants, like Denys, are uncertain about their futures—caught in a web of changing policies and renewed challenges, all while seeking to create stable lives in America amidst uncertainty.
