US to extend humanitarian stay for Ukrainians who entered through Mexico

A Ukrainian mother and her child wait in Mexico until they are allowed to enter the US. AP

The Biden administration will allow Ukrainians who entered the US at the Mexico border last year to renew their humanitarian status, giving them continued access to government benefits such as health insurance and food stamps.

The decision is a victory for advocates who have urged US President Joe Biden to expand legal ways for thousands of migrants from some countries who have been allowed to enter the country on a temporary emergency basis.

The US Department of Homeland Security said on Monday that about 25,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict in Ukraine and sought refuge in the US through Mexico in early 2022 can extend their stay beyond the one-year permit they were initially granted.

Many showed up at the US-Mexico border because they had few other avenues to reach the US.

Ukrainians who recently arrived to Mexico fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland wait for their turn to try to get into the US near the San Ysidro Port of Entry of the US-Mexico border, in Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters

Ukrainians fleeing war arrive to Mexico to cross into the US. Reuters

Ukrainians fleeing war arrive to Mexico to cross into the US. Reuters

A Ukrainian man holds a baby at US-Mexican border as he waits to cross into the US. Reuters

Over 600 Ukrainians have assembled at Mexico's border with the US. Reuters

Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland wait for a US Customs and Border Protection agent before passing through a checkpoint to enter the US after authorities granted permission to remain in the country until 2023, at the San Ysidro Port of Entry of the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters

Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland at the US-Mexico border. Reuters

Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion were granted permission by the Biden administration to remain in the country until 2023. Reuters

The number of Ukrainians and Russians encountered at the Us-Mexico border has already surpassed the previous two years, with the most significant uptick happening in the last six months, as Russia's threats against Ukraine increased. Bloomberg

Ukrainian refugees Sasha Alexandra and Olena fled their city of Dnipro, Ukraine earlier this month and travelled to Germany before flying to Mexico. Getty Images / AFP

Russian asylum seekers Nastya, Artem and their son Samuil sit outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry after not being allowed to cross into the US to seek asylum on March 21, 2022 in Tijuana, Mexico. The family left Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began due to religious persecution. Getty Images / AFP

A Russian and a Ukrainian embrace each other as Russians wait for humanitarian visas, amid the ongoing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the San Ysidro Port of Entry of the US -Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters

A Russian and a Ukrainian embracing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry of the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico. Reuters

Russian and Ukrainian families are staying in a makeshift camp next to the San Ysidro Garita, in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. EPA

Ukrainians and Russians have been waiting side-by-side to enter the US from the Mexico border. AP

About three dozen would-be asylum seekers from Russia found themselves blocked from entering the US while a group of Ukrainians flashed passports and were escorted across the border. AP

Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland pass through a checkpoint to enter the US after authorities granted permission to remain in the country until 2023. Reuters

In April last year, under pressure to accept more refugees, Mr Biden launched the "Uniting for Ukraine" programme to allow the entry by air of Ukrainians with US sponsors and discourage border crossings.

More than 118,000 Ukrainians have gone to the US through that programme with two-year grants of "humanitarian parole" that will not expire until 2024 or later, the department said.

Immigrant advocates hope to secure a similar extension for an estimated 77,000 Afghans who arrived in the US in 2021 as part of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Many Afghans could have their humanitarian parole expire this year.