SYNOPSIS:  President Biden:  Please help to reunite Ukrainian Refugees with their families in the U.S. who can both support as well as help them to rebuild their lives, by signing this petition. "At present, there is NO official Ukrainian Refugee Program offered in the U.S. for Ukrainian families to come here—even for those who have immediate family members as Citizens/Residents in the U.S. or official sponsors. For example, the Family Reunification immigration process currently has a wait time of about 15 years!”  Misha Gryb (His mother, sister, sister-in-law and four nieces and nephews left everything to flee from war-torn Ukraine. The remainder of his family is still in Ukraine).

Dear President Biden,

It’s time for the United States of America to step up to international responsibility and assist with allowing Ukrainian Refugees to come to the United States:  especially those who have immediate family members living in the United States and those who have direct sponsors.  Despite a US announcement that they'd take in Ukrainian Refugees, there is currently no reasonable process for Ukrainians to apply for refugee status in the U.S. 

The Ukrainian people, mothers, fathers, and children, woke up to explosions and artillery fire. Their peaceful cities are now being ransacked by tanks and ground troops willingly shooting at civilians. They are fleeing for the chance to live and to remain free. Mothers and children are being torn away from their husbands and fathers who must remain in Ukraine to fight. They are losing everything they have established – their homes, their families, their jobs, and all of their belongings for a chance to escape a war-torn country. Many of these Ukrainians have immediate family living in the United States actively working to try to help them flee. These families deserve to reunite and receive support from their loved ones in the United States in order to reestablish their lives.

Europe has been stepping up and taking in refugees on a humanitarian basis for many years now, and are accepting Ukrainian Refugees with open arms.  Furthermore, we have a responsibility as it relates to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, signed by Russia, The U.S., and UK as it relates to Ukraine.  With the entrance of Ukraine into the international order as a non-nuclear state, Russia, the U.S. and the U.K. pledged to “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.” The memorandum reaffirmed their obligation to “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.” The signatories also reaffirmed their commitment to “seek immediate” UN Security Council action “to provide assistance to Ukraine if Ukraine should become a victim of an act of aggression.”  In other words, we should have their backs.  Obviously, Russia has broken yet another agreement, and is causing pain, death and destruction.  

Ukrainians are peaceful, hard-working, industrious people.  A large percentage of their population is highly educated.  Additionally, we currently have a labor shortage  in the U.S.  These individuals can help to mitigate our shortage. These people will be bright stars for the U.S.and will not burden our country or citizens.  DO IT NOW please...we have no time to waste.