Ukrainian Refugees Face New Legal Status Threats

HOST INTRO

According to Reuters, the Trump Administration has announced a plan to revoke the temporary legal status for almost a quarter million Ukrainians who fled their homes because of war. The move, which reverses former President Joe Biden’s policy and support for Ukraine, could happen as soon as next month. Our reporter Zijie Yang went to the East Village, home to the city’s ‘Little Ukraine,’ to see what residents make of the news.

ZIJIE 1, BYLINE

Linda Justica is walking her dog, with a bouquet of pink roses in her hand. She’s lived in the neighborhood since the 1970s.  

JUSTICA 1

In the neighborhood, everybody was friendly, everybody liked everybody, the food was wonderful, there were wonderful restaurants. And it’s all over. The country is in crisis. So what do we do?

ZIJIE 2

There are now more than 270,000 Ukrainian immigrants living in New York City. A majority of them live here, in the neighborhood called ‘Little Ukraine.’ Justica blames some issues in the community, like crime, that she has seen over the years, on immigrants.

JUSTICA 2

But like people just come here, and there are all these mafias, there are Ukrainian mafias, Russian Mafias, Chinese Mafias and the Italian Mafias, they formed –s and started taking everything, and that’s the problem.

ZIJIE 3

The Trump administration has often blamed immigrant communities for crime. However statistically, immigrants commit fewer crimes than native born Americans. And, according to the NYPD over the last two years crime has dropped in the area. But her view may represent voters that the new administration is trying to appeal to. Trump is also trying to deport Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans with similar protected status. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was publicly rebuked by President Trump and Vice President Vance when they met in the White House. Afterwards, Trump paused aid to Ukraine. 

ZIJIE 4

On the other side of the street, Brother Timothy is on his way to a mass session. He offers religious service to many members in the community. He supports Trump’s plans.

TIMOTHY 1

I am half-Ukrainian. Ukrainians are very resourceful people. They’re smart. They have faith. Ukrainian people would find a way to deal with this.

ZIJIE 5

3,532 Ukrainian, Humanitarian parolees arrived in New York City year. At Veselka, a popular Ukrainian restaurant a block away the manager says she doesn’t want to talk to a reporter. She’s tired of talking about deportation and war. Zijie, Columbia Radio News.