In 2022, Westside Seattle brought you the story of Olga, a 21 year old Ukranian refugee whose harrowing story of escape from that war torn nation highlighted what many of her friends and family still face. She made her way to Seattle, where she found a job in West Seattle, began attending college, and has been in the process of building a new life. 

Now that life is under threat.

The Trump administration has announced it is planning to revoke the temporary legal status for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia. This move could put them on a fast track to deportation. The decision is part of a broader effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants who entered the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched during the Biden administration.

However, President Trump has stated that no final decision has been made yet, and the administration is still considering the matter. The potential revocation of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ukrainians has sparked concerns and debates about the future of these refugees in the U.S. 

Westside Seattle revisited with Olga to understand what it might mean to her, her friends and family.

1. What does this new policy mean to you and many of your friends?

This means that a lot of Ukrainians, we will no longer be able to continue working. Removing legal status also means losing work authorization. It can be challenging to support a family when you lose a stable source of income, especially if you have kids.

I support my family in Ukraine and also make donations to help my country. For me, staying in the U.S. has given me the opportunity not only to support myself but also to provide for my family and contribute to my homeland. Needing to unexpectedly relocate feels very difficult, and it’s extremely stressful to look into the future with disappointment and no idea what to do next.

The thought of leaving behind the life I’ve built here—my job, community, and the ability to help others—makes it even harder to imagine starting over somewhere else.

2. What protections do you and others have?

Most Ukrainians who arrived recently have humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which are currently at risk of being removed. For most people, these are the only ways to stay in the U.S. legally. It’s really challenging to obtain any other protections with the current immigration situation

3. Does this mean that you and/or others are now in fear of Immigration authorities?

It’s emotionally hard not knowing what will happen next. I don’t feel like I’m breaking the law because I arrived here legally. However, it’s very stressful to see news about immigration changes. Many of us expected to stay in the U.S. and wait until the war ends. I appreciate that I’ve been able to stay here this long—it’s given me a lot.

But if there’s no way for me to continue staying here legally, I will probably need to relocate. The uncertainty makes planning for the future difficult, and I worry about how I’ll support myself and my family if that happens 4. What would those people who DO get deported do? I can only speak for myself, but I don’t have any plans to stay in the U.S. illegally if immigration authorities tell me to leave.

If I lose my right to work, I won’t be looking for ways to cheat the system. Taking a job that pays cash or working under the table is a huge risk for me—you’re far less protected that way. I know a lot of people with no immigration status face discrimination, and I don’t want to end up in that situation. So, I’ve thought about maybe moving to another country. It would probably be very difficult, especially since I’ve worked really hard for these 3 years to adapt to life in the U.S., but I don’t want to violate the law. I’ve built some work experience and even got some college education here in the U.S., so I’d probably try to use those skills and qualifications somewhere else.

It’s not an easy decision, but I want to stay on the right side of the law and build a stable future, wherever that may be.

5. Is there any legal recourse that you know of?

I used the USCIS website and some migration lawyer services.

Westside Seattle will update her status should the deportation order be announced.