The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the suspension of the United for Ukraine (U4U) program, which has facilitated the entry of Ukrainians fleeing conflict. This decision, effective January 28, 2025, is aligned with the executive order issued on January 20, 2025, titled Securing Our Borders.
The USCIS will no longer accept Form I-134A, the online application for sponsorship and financial support, until it has completed its review of all pending requests. This suspension follows directives from the Department of Homeland Security, which has halted several immigration programs that permitted temporary settlement in the U.S., including the U4U initiative.
Since its inception, over 150,000 Ukrainians have entered the United States under the United for Ukraine program as of September 2023. The suspension of such a critical program raises concerns about the future of Ukrainian refugees seeking safety in the U.S. and its implications on international humanitarian efforts.
Observers will be monitoring the situation closely for any updates from the USCIS regarding the resumption of the program or alternative measures for Ukrainian refugees.