FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2022
Washington, D.C. — The Biden administration plans to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, two sources familiar with the forthcoming announcement told Reuters.
According to the report: “Not all of the accepted Ukrainians will come through the U.S. refugee program, one Biden administration official said, with others coming on family-based visas or another process known as humanitarian parole.”
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has resettled a quarter of the 20,000 Ukrainian refugees resettled in the United States since 2012. The following is a statement by Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:
“We commend the Biden administration for its plan to protect Ukrainians seeking safety, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children. While many may wish to remain close to Ukraine, the sheer scale of displacement requires a coordinated global effort in which every able country pulls its weight. Welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians would be an important recognition that the United States must play both a supporting and leading role in providing refuge.
As we await further details on the plan’s implementation, resettlement organizations like ours are preparing to welcome Ukrainians with open arms. Buoyed by the incredible generosity of Americans across the country, we are confident that we can rise to the occasion and provide safe haven and support for these children and families.”
##
To learn more about how you can help Ukrainian refugees, visit our Ukraine Crisis Action Hub