AILA Public Statements, Press Releases

AILA Welcomes Biden Administration Moves to Help Ukrainian Nationals But More Needs to Be Done on Several Fronts

3/4/22 AILA Doc. No. 22030401. Temporary Protected Status & Deferred Enforced Departure

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the recent designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will protect thousands of Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States. At the same time, AILA calls on the administration to do more for Ukraine and to move rapidly to offer similar protections to nationals of several other countries that already face dire circumstances on the ground.

AILA President Allen Orr stated, “As we continue to see images of a country at war and refugees fleeing, our hearts remain with the Ukrainian people as this invasion ravages their country. It was heartening to see the Biden administration offer urgently needed protection to Ukrainian nationals here, including TPS and reportedly a halt to deportations to several countries in Europe as well as Ukraine. While I welcome these changes, I cannot help but contrast this relatively swift action with the fact that the call for TPS for Cameroon has seemingly gone unheard for months and deportation flights back to Haiti and Cameroon continue despite the clear fact that deportations back to those countries amount to a death sentence in case after case. The lack of action to help nationals of those countries is contrary to the United States’ long-standing commitment to humanitarian protection and equity.”

AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson stated, “With an estimated one million Ukrainians having fled the country, the United States must continue to provide humanitarian assistance, including an emergency aid package, to Ukraine, UN organizations, and partner countries in the region. Beyond TPS and a halt to deportation flights, AILA continues to call on the administration to expedite processing of pending cases for Ukraine nationals and provide special relief for international students affected by this crisis.”

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