Wave of ICE detentions, deportations targets Ukrainians in US

Ukrainians living in the United States are reporting a surge in detentions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even among those with valid documentation under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) programme.

Many are held in detention centres for months and face deportation proceedings, according to a BBC article. Experts warn that as many as 200,000 Ukrainians could be affected.

“He showed his documents — still ‘illegal’”

One case highlighted is that of Andriy (name changed). On the evening of 19 November 2025, he was driving home from work in Charles Town, West Virginia, when police and ICE officers stopped him.

According to Andriy, after checking his documents, officers immediately handcuffed him and declared that he was in the country illegally.

Andriy had arrived in the United States in 2024 under the U4U programme, which allows Ukrainians to live legally in the U.S. for two years with the possibility of extension, to work, study, and obtain a driver’s licence. At the time of his arrest, his humanitarian parole was still valid for over two months, until February 2026.

“I showed ICE my documents... They didn't care. They immediately said I was illegal,” Andriy said.

He also noted that he had not broken any laws, and that the arrest occurred in a car park, with the main issue being the status of U4U.

Months behind bars and “three-minute trial”

After his arrest, Andriy was taken into custody. He spent more than two months in prison, first in a federal facility and then in a migrant detention centre, where he was held in a cell with around 80 other people.

His girlfriend Olena (name changed) described the initial court hearing, saying the first court hearing lasted only a few minutes, and the man was not released.

Ultimately, Andriy and Olena agreed to voluntary deportation, leaving the United States for Poland in February 2026.

“It’s a feeling of complete powerlessness,” Andriy said.

Up to 200,000 Ukrainians at risk

The BBC notes that the U.S. immigration system has tightened under Donald Trump’s administration, with ICE conducting raids and mass detentions. Critics warn that human rights violations occur when even those legally permitted to remain in the country face deportation.

Experts estimate that roughly 200,000 Ukrainian refugees could be vulnerable due to delays in status extensions, document problems, and the risk of detention. Reports also indicate several dozen Ukrainians have already been detained, and at least one Ukrainian citizen died in an ICE facility in Miami.

Bureaucratic delays have further complicated the situation, leaving people waiting months for document renewals and losing access to work, insurance, and driver’s licences, while fear of arrest restricts daily life.

Recent deportation cases

Several high-profile detentions of Ukrainians have already been reported. One case involves 39-year-old refugee Dmytro Kulik, who faces deportation proceedings initiated by ICE. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago noted that neither Kulik, his relatives, nor his lawyer had sought diplomatic assistance.

According to his lawyer, Kulik arrived in the U.S. at the end of 2023 with his wife, who has a disability, and their 5-year-old daughter. They applied for protection under the U4U programme. When the initial two-year term expired, only the wife and child received a positive decision for extension, leaving Kulik at risk.

Reuters reports that due to delays in U4U extensions, about 200,000 Ukrainians may lose their permits and legal status. Many have also lost the right to work, health insurance, and face the looming threat of detention.

By Sabina Mammadli