GENERAL STATEMENT
For the foreseeable future, we will make this our home page for easy access to the current news regarding the ongoing changes to the US stance on refugee visas and application statuses.  We are aware of the recent executive order signed by President Trump that pauses the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program.  We understand the impact this may have and are closely monitoring the situation.  We will keep you informed here as we receive more information.  

 

The USCIS website was briefly offline but is now back online.  While the Trump administration has paused the Uniting for Ukraine program, it appears people with applications will again be able to access the status of their applications or re-paroles.  The website gives the indication people are able to enter new applications, but this seems unlikely, as the administration has paused the U4U program till at least the middle of April. There doesn't appear to be any repercussions for trying, in any case.

USEFUL LINKS

•  For help with documentation, jobs, etc, please contact Lutheran Social Services (LSS)

  • Rapid City:  viktoriia.vasylyshyn@lsssd.org, 605-501-9331, 605-981-6877, (Victoria could be out of office till March, so you may have to contact the Sioux Falls office.

  • Sioux Falls:  info@LssSD.org, 605-444-7500, 800-568-2401, 605-403-8023

• USCIS sponsors and applicants with specific problems pertaining to this most recent stoppage of the U4U program, contact South  Dakota elected officials via their online email and outline your specific refugee-related issue.  They should be in contact with you after they receive your request:

  • U.S. Senator John Thune:   https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

  • U.S. Senator Mike Rounds: does not have an online email entry system, but you may phone his office:  605-343-5035

  • U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson:  https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/contact/email-me

  • SD Governor Larry Rhoden:  https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/EForm.aspx?

ICE ENCOUNTER AWARENESS: 

You may be seeing reports on the news about raids by ICE, although, there have been no credible reports of raids in SD at this time.  Additionally, these raids do not apply to our Ukrainian refugees, as it only currently applies to people with no legal status in the US who have committed crimes.  Having said that, it is still a good idea to familiarize yourself with this information.  Below is a list of your rights with ICE if you come into contact with them at home, at work, or out in public.  This document is translated into English, Ukrainian and Russian.

• Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - English

• Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Ukranian

• Know your rights with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Russian

 

(COMING SOON:  REFUGEE PURSUING ALTERNATIVE STATUS(ES) ROADMAP)