Ukrainian Migrants Spark More Debate on U.S. Immigration Policy

The Biden Administration announced this past month its decision to accept “up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression through the full range of legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.”

The Administration made this announcement even as it expects that “many Ukrainians will choose to remain in Europe close to family and their homes.” So far, the U.S. has committed $13.6 billion to aid Ukrainians, an amount that continues to increase.

The priority in relocating 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S. is highly debatable. There are millions of displaced Ukrainians and safe havens closer to their homes.

Ukraine is a country of 43 million. As of now, 10 million Ukrainians are displaced, including 4 million who have settled in other countries (mainly in eastern Europe) and 6 million who have relocated within Ukraine.

Opinions on Resettling Ukrainians in the United States

Amid round-the-clock news coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, polls show that a majority of Americans support settling Ukrainians in the United States.

Yet, news coverage has also sparked broader discussions on U.S. migrant and refugee policy.

Some analysts argue that settling Ukrainians calls for accepting more migrants from other countries into the U.S.

Other analysts argue that settling Ukrainians in the U.S. goes counter to keeping those displaced close to their home so that they can soon return and rebuild.

Keeping Displaced Ukrainians Close to Home

In the March 10 Rising episode, trainer, consultant and Newsweek contributor Pamela Denise Long and Maryland Councilmember Will Jawando discussed the importance of proximity in settling displaced Ukrainians, as well as what impact settling Ukrainian migrants will have on Americans:

The proximity argument is front and center for Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova. She stated on the March 27 Meet the Press broadcast:

We already see more than 3.6 million refugees in Europe everywhere. It’s mostly women and children and the majority of them want to go back. So the focus for us is sanctions, weapons, so we can stop Putin and start rebuilding Ukraine.”

World Conflict and U.S. Immigration Policy

Roy Beck, President and CEO of NumbersUSA, has highlighted throughout the years the ineffectiveness of mass immigration to the U.S. in reducing world poverty.

Beck’s breakdown can also be applied to the limits of mass immigration in addressing world conflicts.

As Russia invades Ukraine, other conflicts throughout the world also go on and the United States remains a primary location for migrants seeking to relocate.

Analysts will continue to debate U.S. refugee and humanitarian visa policies and limits. Nonetheless, the U.S. will not resolve world conflicts by accepting more migrants.

LISA IRVING is the Volunteer Coordinator for NumbersUSA’s Media Standards Project