Trump administration prepares mass deportation of Ukrainians

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna said that the embassy has information about approximately 80 Ukrainian citizens who have received final orders of deportation for violating US law. She noted that the US authorities are working on logistical issues related to deportation, given the lack of direct international flights to Ukraine, The Washington Post reports.

“This is a standard procedure that applies to all foreign nationals and stateless persons who violate the terms of their stay in the US, regardless of their nationality,” Stefanishyna said.

If all 80 Ukrainians are deported, it will be the highest number in recent years. According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 53 Ukrainians were deported from the US in fiscal year 2024.

This risk also exists for citizens with uncertain status, such as those who came from Ukraine but were born during the Soviet era.

According to international treaties, officials should not send people to countries where they may be subjected to persecution or torture. Even notorious criminals should be protected from torture. But human rights activists say the Trump administration is violating these principles by trying to send people with criminal records to countries such as South Sudan, which is on the brink of civil war, and now Ukraine.

A representative of the Department of Homeland Security stated that, for operational security reasons, ICE does not confirm upcoming deportation operations, but all detainees have the full right to a trial and that each detainee is entitled to a trial and the opportunity to express their claims.

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