March 6 has been a day of continuous worry and uncertainty for Tetiana Soloshchuk and many other Ukrainian refugees in Central Kentucky. Her phone has been ringing non-stop with messages from fellow refugees in panic, as they wait for crucial news regarding their legal status in the United States.
Soloshchuk, who moved to Kentucky three years ago to escape the horrors of the war in Ukraine, is just one of the many individuals whose future in the country now hangs in the balance. The uncertainty stems from President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about potentially revoking the humanitarian parole program. This program, established under President Joe Biden’s administration, has been a lifeline for many Ukrainian refugees who fled the war and sought refuge in the United States.
If Trump goes through with his decision to reverse the humanitarian parole program, it could mean that thousands of Ukrainians currently residing in Central Kentucky would lose their legal status and face the risk of deportation. According to Mary Cobb, the director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries’ Lexington office, over 800 Ukrainian refugees have been tracked by the agency in the past two years who entered the U.S. under this program. The organization has been providing essential services to these refugees, including housing, legal advice, and employment assistance.
Cobb expressed the profound impact such a decision would have on Central Kentucky. “This would be hugely devastating to the community,” she said. The Ukrainian community in the region is substantial, with many refugees now living, working, and raising families in areas like Jessamine, Fayette, and Woodford counties. Soloshchuk believes the total number of individuals affected could be as high as 3,000.
One of the most pressing issues for many Ukrainian refugees is the lack of available alternatives to secure their legal status. Soloshchuk explained that another immigration option, known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), is now frozen, making it even harder for people to secure a stable future. TPS, which temporarily shields individuals from deportation due to unstable conditions in their home countries, is expected to protect Ukrainians in the U.S. until October 2026. However, the frozen status of the program leaves many uncertain of what lies ahead.
Immigration lawyer Shannon Church Egan, who has worked with Ukrainian clients, voiced her concerns about the situation. “Ukrainians who fled Russian aggression and came to Kentucky seeking safety understandably fear being forced to return to an active war zone,” Church Egan said. If TPS were to be removed, many refugees would be left without lawful status and would need to explore other avenues, such as asylum or family-based petitions, to stay in the country.
The Struggles of Living in Limbo
For Soloshchuk, the uncertainty is overwhelming. She left behind a law career and a stable life in Ukraine to escape the violence of war. But now, she has become a beacon of hope for other Ukrainian refugees. In an effort to help those facing the same challenges, she founded a nonprofit organization called With Ukraine in Heart. While the organization offers support and financial assistance, Soloshchuk cannot provide the one thing that refugees are desperately seeking: certainty about their future.
“There’s no place to return to,” she said, highlighting the harsh reality that many Ukrainian refugees face. “We left because of the war. There’s no stability for us back home.”
Sergey Tsymbalyuk, another member of the Ukrainian community in Central Kentucky, echoed Soloshchuk’s concerns. Having immigrated to the U.S. as a child, Tsymbalyuk has now lived in Kentucky for over a decade. He emphasized that many Ukrainian refugees who arrived under the humanitarian parole program have followed the rules, believing that the U.S. government would honor the promises made to them. “We are very thankful to the United States government and to all of the officials here,” Tsymbalyuk said. “Ukrainians want to be helpful. We want to be useful.”
Many members of the Ukrainian community have already started contributing to the local economy by starting their own businesses. Tsymbalyuk mentioned that some have even employed other refugees and local residents. “The economic impact would be disastrous,” Soloshchuk warned. If the parole program is revoked, many Ukrainians who are currently paying taxes, earning wages, and investing in local businesses might be forced to leave.
Living with Uncertainty
The fear of losing their legal status is taking a toll on the mental health of refugees. Many are hesitant to sign long-term leases for apartments, unsure if they will still be able to stay in the U.S. come April. At the same time, they continue to support their families back in Ukraine, many of whom are still trapped in the ongoing conflict.
The situation has also deeply affected the personal lives of many refugees. Some had to sell homes and businesses in Ukraine to afford the journey to the U.S., only to find themselves now living in limbo. The stress of this uncertainty is weighing heavily on the community, with many closely following every development in the ongoing political situation.
Tsymbalyuk shared a moment of personal distress when he watched a tense exchange between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February. “My stomach just dropped,” Tsymbalyuk admitted. The conversation was so heated that many Ukrainians initially thought it was a joke. Later, Zelenskyy apologized for the comments, but the damage was done. The ongoing political back-and-forth only increases the fear and uncertainty for refugees like Tsymbalyuk and Soloshchuk.
Despite the anxiety surrounding the situation, some hold on to hope. Trump has made conflicting statements about his stance on the humanitarian parole program, and there is still a possibility that the program will not be revoked. “We’re not looking to hurt anybody,” Trump said on March 6. “I’m looking at that.” For the thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Kentucky, those words offer a glimmer of hope, but only time will tell what the future holds.
The Ukrainian community in Kentucky remains united and hopeful, but the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether they will have a future in the United States or be forced to return to a war-torn country.
Disclaimer – Our team has carefully fact-checked this article to make sure it’s accurate and free from any misinformation. We’re dedicated to keeping our content honest and reliable for our readers.