How Many Ukrainian Refugees Are Going to the U.S.?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24th, 2022, and has now lasted more than two months. This ongoing conflict has led to death and destruction in Ukraine, mostly impacting civilians—1,189 have died as of May 3rd, 2022. This has led to a dramatic increase in Ukrainian refugees. In fact, over 6 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country to find safety in neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Belarus, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, and even Russia itself.

However, those countries risk becoming overwhelmed, as this humanitarian crisis marks the fastest and largest refugee situation in Europe since World War II. Additionally, there are still over 6 million Ukrainians who have been internally displaced in their own country, many of whom are looking for safe passage to another nation. One of the destinations for them is the United States.

The U.S. has promised $1 billion in order to support those countries that have taken in refugees from Ukraine. President Biden has also pledged that the U.S. would take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, and has streamlined the refugee resettlement program for Ukrainians in an effort to help expedite the process. This is because only 12 refugees from Ukraine were admitted into the U.S. in the entire month of March.

On April 25th, 2022, the new “Uniting for Ukraine” plan—also referred to as humanitarian parole—took effect. This program lets American citizens sponsor Ukrainian refugees, allowing them to stay in the U.S. temporarily, and speeding up the process of being allowed into the country. 

As of mid-May 2022, around 6,000 of the 19,000 Ukrainians who applied for admission into the U.S. through the “Uniting for Ukraine” program have been granted authorization to travel to the country. It is estimated that there are an additional 20,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. who had ties to the United States and were allowed to enter the country via the southern border before there was a formal U.S. refugee program for Ukrainians.

During the first week of April, around 3,000 Ukrainians waiting in Mexico were deemed to be particularly vulnerable by U.S. authorities and were subsequently allowed to enter the United States. At one camp in Tijuana, it is reported that between 50 and 100 Ukrainian refugees arrive each day, hoping to be allowed to enter the U.S. despite the long processing times for their cases. 

The Ukrainian people desperately need help from other individuals, agencies, organizations, and countries in order to find refuge and safety. The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including Ukrainian refugees currently in need. Together with our partner agencies, we are working on providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees, as well as calling on governments around the world to provide immediate support to all Ukrainians in need of protection.

With our members, the Conferences of Catholic Bishops in the USA and worldwide, we are also encouraging ceasefire zones so civilian populations can escape to safety, as well as promoting the establishment of Temporary Protection Directives so that refugees are admitted to countries where they are seeking protection. In countries bordering Ukraine, our member organizations are working to welcome and provide support to refugees fleeing the conflict.

We rely on generous donations to continue our critical work, so consider making a donation to help make a difference in the lives of Ukrainian refugees today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.