Ukrainian refugees living in Massachusetts were among many nationwide who received an email from the federal government Thursday saying their temporary legal status to live in the United States would be revoked and they would have to depart the U.S. “immediately.”
The email, headlined as “notice of termination of parole,” started with the words, “It is time for you to leave the United States.” It said recipients’ legal status, including their authorization to work in the U.S., would be terminated in a week — and that recipients would be subject to criminal prosecution if they stayed in the country.
“Do not attempt to remain in the United States - the federal government will find you,” it warned.
In a statement to GBH News on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security admitted it sent the notice “in error.“
“Their parole is not turned off and neither is the U4U [Uniting for Ukraine] parole program,” the statement said.
The initial message terrified Ukrainian refugee families across the state.
“What we’ve been hearing is just this idea of stoking fear. There was no official notice up on the [Department of Homeland Security] website. It’s just sort of a race to see what’s real,” said Rabbi James Greene, chief executive of Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, before the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the error.
Greene’s organization has been helping Ukrainian families settle in the Commonwealth. He said children were showing up to school “crying and fearful” on Friday morning. “Our Ukrainian clients know that the situation in Ukraine is unsafe. The families have settled here to ensure their safety, their security. They have jobs, they’re paying taxes, they’re self-sufficient,” he said.
Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts has helped 1,324 Ukrainian refugees through the Uniting for Ukraine program, which was created in 2022 by the Biden administration for people fleeing the Russian invasion.
The program allows people who pass background checks and have a sponsor to live and work in the U.S. legally. The Trump administration paused the program in January so new applicants can’t be considered, but Ukrainians already approved for the program have continued to have legal status. With Thursday’s erroneous email, many thought that was changing.
The situation unfolded the same day a Russian missile strike killed 18 people, half of whom were children, in the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Department of Homeland Security’s mistake prompted an outcry from some members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation.
“Telling Ukrainians they have to return to an active war zone in seven days or face criminal prosecution is unconscionable,” said Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat. “The Trump administration’s incompetence and cruelty continues to astound, and they must be held accountable.”
The Department of Homeland Security sent a new email out to impacted families Friday night to correct their original message.
“No action will be taken in respect to your parole as indicated in the April 3, 2025 email; the terms of your parole as originally issued remain unchanged at this time.”
