Approximately 200,000 Ukrainians who fled their homes for the U.S. amid the war with Russia are waiting to learn their fate because their work permits are not being renewed.

DeWitt

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukrainian refugees who settled in DeWitt, Iowa, after fleeing conflict in Ukraine have become valued members of the community, filling local workforce shortages and establishing new lives. However, their two-year work permits are expiring, and the Trump administration has chosen not to renew them, unlike many European countries.

This decision leaves refugees in a difficult position: while they are not being forced to leave the United States, they may not be able to afford to stay without legal employment. Community members and employers have voiced support for the refugees, highlighting their contributions and the ongoing dangers in Ukraine, but the future for many remains uncertain.

Trump admin. not renewing work permits for Ukrainian refugees

Liana Avicii's son and most of her family fled Ukraine in 2023 and have built a new life in the U.S. So you've really been embraced by this community. Yes, yes. Resettling in rural DeWitt, Iowa, which calls itself the Crossroads to Opportunity. This is our new community. And it's been just that for more than 75 Ukrainians like herself, welcomed by people like Angela Bolanz, who has helped many with housing and jobs. I get a phone call every week from employers saying, do you have anybody from Ukraine who needs a job? Because we have a workforce shortage in Iowa. In Kyiv, Avicii's son sold real estate. Here, she took a job at a window replacement company. To find people that want to work and take pride in their work, to our standards, is not easy. I want more Ukrainians if they want to. You want more? Absolutely. Sam Hare employed Avicii's son, her husband, and her cousin before their two-year work permits expired. Most European countries are renewing work permits of Ukrainian refugees. The Trump administration is not. This is a red state. Yes. Who did you vote for? I voted for Trump. If you had the president or the administrations here, you would say what? These people are hard to find and come by. They've been through upheaval just to get here. And then all of a sudden, what they thought they were building towards is shaken. When people do the right thing and follow the rules, they should be rewarded. For Avicii's son and her teenage daughter, the opportunity of DeWitt could be slipping away. So you bought this house? Yeah, we bought this house. That's a pretty big deal. Yeah. If you had to sell the house to leave here, how would that be for you? It would break my heart, really. Some might say they were never promised that they could stay here permanently. So why shouldn't they have to move on? They were promised to stay until it's safe to return. It's not safe to return. It's not even close. And when we make a promise to people, I feel we keep it. Bolin says many more work permits are about to expire, leaving Ukrainian refugees in limbo. They may not be forced to leave, but without a job, they can't afford to stay. Would you go back to Kyiv? It's not safe to go back to Kyiv. Every day, every night, it's bombing. And I have a lot of videos from my mom. This is my mom. Having left everything behind, refugees like Avicii's son hope to stay rooted in the American heartland they call home. For ION America, I'm Janet Shamlian in DeWitt, Iowa.

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Geneva

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Moscow

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Washington

Global Tariffs

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U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expected to visit Russia

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Videos of hostages increase pressure on Netanyahu for ceasefire

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Rome

Pope Leo XIV addresses Gaza, Ukraine at youth festival

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Sana'a

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Kamchatka Peninsula

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As Suwayda

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Kyiv

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Anaconda

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Sderot

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Bryan

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Ljubljana

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Trump admin. not renewing work permits for Ukrainian refugees

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Ukraine Invasion