The war in Ukraine has set off the fastest mass migration in Europe in at least three decades. Many compare it with the Balkan wars of the 1990s. It also echoes the vast population displacement that followed World War II. Ukrainian refugees are scattered across the globe.
Temporary Protected Status
The United States has responded admirably to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians already in the U.S. This measure allows Ukrainians who arrived before March 1, 2022, to stay and work for 18 months, regardless of their immigration status. TPS halted all deportations to Ukraine and surrounding countries.
Weeks later, the Biden administration declared that the U.S. would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. This decision showed that our nation is dedicated to aiding Ukrainians and playing its part in the international community.
4.5 Million Flee Ukraine
As of April 9, more than 4.5 million individuals have fled Ukraine, and more than 6.5 million Ukrainians remain internally displaced. Bordering countries like Poland and Romania have accepted hundreds of thousands of refugees.
According to the DHS, between February 1 and April 6, border officials have processed nearly 10,000 undocumented Ukrainians’ requests for asylum at the Mexico border. Furthermore, these numbers keep increasing every day as the war continues.
The Ukraine war is a drama that has awakened the sensitivity of many. After witnessing the horrors of the events in Ukraine, many in the U.S. want to help. For instance, people from all over the country are offering their homes as a refuge for displaced Ukrainians.
A Story of Friendship and Love
An example of this kindness is the case of Marina and Max. Unlike many other sad stories of misfortune, Marina and Max’s story is a fortunate one. Thanks to Marina’s childhood friend and Orange County resident Victoria Lerman Gillis, they are now safe.
Victoria and her family emigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine when she was only 12 years old. For decades, she and Marina wrote letters and stayed in contact via mail. Those letters, though, sometimes took 3 months to make the journey between Ukraine and the U.S. They had been trying for many years to arrange a visit to the U.S., however, due to visa restrictions, Marina was never able to come visit her good friend.
As a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), Marina helped deliver newborns. She was working in Khmelnitskiy, a city 150 miles east of Lviv, caring for the women staying in the basement of the hospital there due to the Russian invasion. She stayed as long as she could before it became apparent that she needed to get herself and her 14-year-old son Max to safety. After talking with Victoria, Marina knew where she was headed.
Journey to Orange County
Their journey took them from Khmelnitskiy to Rumania, and then into Bulgaria. From Bulgaria, Marina and Max traveled to France, before catching a flight to Mexico. Finally, it was at the Mexican border, after clearing customs and immigration, that Victoria met them with open arms. She welcomed them into her home in Irvine and is helping them adapt to their new situation.
Marina and Max are safe but have lost everything and find themselves in a precarious financial situation. Kerry, a neighbor of Victoria, learned of Marina and Max’s journey and started a GOFundMe campaign to help them get by for now. Furthermore, they need everything that people who have been displaced from their homes can use.
For donations go to https://lnkd.in/gvQUw8GA
