In brief
Denys, originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, fled the war to seek refuge in Spokane. While he initially thrived in his new life, losing his job due to federal policy shifts has left him and his family in turmoil. Struggling to secure work authorization while facing the threat of deportation, Denys embodies the plight of many Ukrainian immigrants caught in a turbulent immigration landscape as the Uniting for Ukraine program faces restrictions.
SPOKANE, Wash. — For Denys, the first sound of fireworks in his new home of Spokane ignited fear, triggering memories of missile attacks in Kharkiv, Ukraine. His children, familiar with the sounds of war, were terrified.
Denys, compelled to leave his war-torn homeland after a harrowing attack on his daughter's hospital, connected with an old neighbor in the U.S. who shared the Uniting for Ukraine program, offering him and his family a chance at a new life.
Settling in Spokane, Denys quickly adjusted, learning English and securing a job as a welder. However, the 240,000 Ukrainians who came to the U.S. under this program now face precarious futures. In June, Denys lost his job not for performance, but due to the government failing to renew his work authorization, which has put his family at risk of financial instability.
The Uniting for Ukraine initiative, designed to provide temporary humanitarian parole, has seen renewals stunted under the current administration, affecting many families like Denys's. The unforeseen freeze has forced Denys to rely on charity as he contemplates illegal work just to provide for his three kids.
Legal graphs and immigration attorneys note a systemic collapse where migrant concerns contribute to feelings of helplessness amongst those uprooted by war. As policies shift, fear of deportation and uncertainty looms large for many Ukrainian households in Spokane.
“I love this country,” says Denys, expressing his longing for stability and acceptance. He wishes for nothing more than the chance to work legally and provide for his family amidst a backdrop of shifting immigration policies.
