WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the third anniversary of the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and his colleagues in introducing the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act. This legislation would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return.
“Three years ago, we made a commitment to help protect Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s unprovoked invasion. Maintaining our commitment to the Ukrainian people is crucial, now more than ever, to ensure not only the future of European democracy, but our own security,” said Senator Welch. “Vulnerable Ukrainians legally in the United States should be able to stay here under temporary guest status until conditions in Ukraine are safe for their return. Obviously, those conditions don’t exist only days after Putin’s largest killer-drone attack of the war. I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in standing by displaced Ukrainians and standing up against Putin’s ruthless attempts to isolate and erase Ukraine.”
“Three years ago today, Putin began his brutal, criminal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine—which remains on the frontlines of democracy and transatlantic security,” said Senator Durbin. “When the war started, Americans across the country opened their hearts and communities to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression. Both Republicans and Democrats petitioned President Biden to protect them from deportation. While not a single Republican has cosponsored this bill, I urge them to join us to ensure Ukrainians legally present in the U.S. have temporary guest status until conditions in Ukraine are safe for return. Standing up to dictators and speaking out for victims of war should not be a partisan issue.”
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are original cosponsors of the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act.
The individuals included in the bill already underwent rigorous vetting to ensure that they present no criminal or public safety risks. The legislation would also allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke this temporary status if new information raises such concerns about any individual. Bill text can be found here.
The following organizations endorsed the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act: Refugee Council USA; Chin Association of Maryland; HIAS; World Relief; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Human Rights First; Church World Service; International Refugee Assistance Project; Global Refuge; Boat People SOS; Center for Victims of Torture; Jesuit Refugee Service; and Veterans for American Ideals.
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