Nearly 200000 Ukrainians in the US are trapped in legal limbo after delays in processing renewals under a humanitarian program created in 2022. Many have already lost work permits, jobs, and health insurance, leaving them at risk of deportation.

The slowdown began after the Trump administration paused applications, later adding steep fees that deepened families’ uncertainty. Ukrainians interviewed say they are staying indoors, relying on savings or even leaving the country to avoid arrest.

Lawyers report rising detentions during routine work. With renewals barely moving, families fear losing stability overnight. The situation raises tough questions about how the US will handle vulnerable refugees caught between war and shifting immigration policies.