Court orders Trump to resume consideration of Ukrainian refugee applications under U4U program
In recent months, the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States once again faced a situation of legal uncertainty. Hundreds of thousands of people who left Ukraine after the outbreak of full-scale war and came to the United States under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program have been unable to renew their documents, apply for work permits, or obtain longer-term legal status. The suspension of U4U in January 2025 put the legal status of thousands of families at risk. This situation has caused deep concern in the communities, in particular among those who have already taken root in American life – work, study, raise children. And it is against this legal vacuum that a federal court in Massachusetts issued an interim ruling that temporarily changes the rules of the game.
The essence of the court decision: what the Trump administration must do
Human rights organizations Justice Action Center, Human Rights First and Haitian Bridge Alliance filed a lawsuit against the federal administration after it blocked the processing of applications for a number of humanitarian programs. This is both a program for Ukrainians and protection mechanisms for Afghan allies, children from Central America, families of US military personnel, and migrants from the Caribbean and Latin America.
As reported the press service of the human rights organization Justice Action Center, the court, after considering the arguments, recognized the actions of the administration as causing direct harm to the beneficiaries of humanitarian programs, and temporarily obliged the authorities:
– resume processing of immigration applications previously submitted within these programs;
– give the opportunity to re-submit applications for a work permit;
– open the way to alternative legal status, including temporary protection (TPS) or asylum.
The resolution applies to specific programs, including Uniting for Ukraine, which has been used by about 240,000 Ukrainians since 2022.
What consequences will the court decision have for Ukrainians in the United States
This decision opens up an opportunity for some Ukrainians to restore their legal status and the right to work, which for many was the only source of income to support their families. However, it is important to understand: it is not about a full-fledged restoration of the U4U program, but only about the temporary unfreezing of previously submitted applications. In other words, if the application was submitted before January 2025, there is a chance that it will be considered again.
Ukrainians who for certain reasons did not have time to submit documents are currently unable to use new submissions — this restriction remains in effect. It is also unknown how long this court order will last – the decision is temporary and is valid only for the period of consideration of the case in court. If the Trump administration decides to challenge it on appeal, the situation could change at any time.
What U4U stands for and why its suspension has become a crisis
The Uniting for Ukraine program was introduced in April 2022 as a response to the mass influx of refugees from Ukraine. It allowed Ukrainians to enter the US on the basis of a humanitarian password, get the right to work and stay in the country for two years. However, the program did not automatically guarantee refugee status, asylum or temporary protection, all of which required separate steps.
Despite this, U4U has become almost the only safe and legal way to enter the USA for thousands of Ukrainian families. Its suspension in January 2025 hit not only new applicants, but also those already in the country: delays in the processing of applications, failure to consider extensions of work permits, legal uncertainty for children who have gone to American schools – all this has become a reality in recent months.
Why the Trump administration suspended the program
After Donald Trump returned to the White House, his team began a large-scale review of immigration policies. One of the priorities of the new administration has been to curtail temporary humanitarian programs, which, according to Republicans, are “abused” and create risks of uncontrolled entry. U4U was one of the first programs to be shut down.
From a legal point of view, the administration justified the suspension of the program by “reviewing the compliance of the humanitarian password with the national interests of the United States.” This wording does not contain a clear legal definition and became the basis for a lawsuit by human rights defenders.
What should Ukrainians do now?
For those who have already applied for a work permit or change of status before the program is suspended, it is worth:
– check the status of your case through USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service) online services;
– consult with an immigration lawyer to find out whether you are covered by the court decision;
– do not submit new applications if you do not have confirmation that the old one is being processed – submitting new applications is currently not officially allowed;
– to wait for further decisions of the court, since the current order is of a temporary nature.
At the same time, it is important to prepare for alternative options — in particular, the procedure for applying for temporary protection (TPS) or asylum. Both paths require careful legal preparation and have complex bureaucratic requirements.
Solving this issue goes beyond the purely legal sphere. For Ukrainians in the USA, it means something much more: stability, security, the opportunity to build the future. Whether the decision issued by the court will become a long-term guarantee depends both on the judicial authorities and on the political will of the White House administration.
For now, one thing is clear: the U4U reinstatement case is just one part of a larger struggle for the rights of Ukrainian refugees in the US, which is ongoing in courtrooms, in attorneys’ offices, and in every family in limbo.
