By Catherine Lacovara
Medill Reports
On Feb. 28, during a disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized the Ukrainian president’s leadership. And in the days that followed, the Trump administration pulled military and intelligence aid to Ukraine, only to restore it days later.
The constant changes caused a lot of turmoil and worry within the Ukrainian community of Chicago. Many in the community have been concerned about their immigration statuses, as Trump said he would consider revoking the temporary immigration status of thousands of Ukrainians living in the U.S.
The Selfreliance Association is a nonprofit in Chicago that aids Ukrainian immigrants as they settle in the U.S. Many of its clients and employees are worried about how this administration could affect immigration status.
Transcript:
Narration: On Feb. 22 and March 2, local Ukrainian organizations and supporters gathered downtown to commemorate the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
Maria Dmytriv-Kapeniak, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee Illinois Division: So let us be clear. Ukraine did not start the war. Russia is a terrorist state.
Narration: A sense of betrayal was felt by many in the community and across the world.
John Shaw, director of Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, professor: I think, you know, developments of the last months are shocking to Ukrainians. Of course, I think they’re shocking and disturbing to Europeans, and they’re shocking and disturbing — disturbing to many Americans. I think the sense of betrayal, in Europe and especially in Ukraine, is profound and palpable and deeply understandable.
Narration: In the last month, the Trump administration has made drastic and frequent foreign policy changes regarding U.S. support for Ukraine.
Zoryana Smozhonyk, president & co-founder of the Ukrainian Daughters Foundation: “Ukraine belongs in NATO”
Narration: The constant changes caused many to worry. Including Zoryana Smozhonyk. The president of the Chicago-based relief organization, Ukrainian Daughters Foundation
Smozhonyk:. This administration broke from a precedent that’s been around since before the Cold War. You don’t want to be tossing away the allies that you’ve been working with for the past, you know, 80, 100 years. You don’t want to be making friends with the guys that have been starting wars for the last 50 or so years.
Narration: After Trump stated he would consider canceling the temporary protected immigration status for thousands of Ukrainian immigrants, many worried about what this would mean for Ukrainians living here in Chicago.
Olena Levko-Sendeha, program director of Selfreliance Association: For me, it’s a shock. I was speechless. You don’t even want to read the news, you don’t want to watch the news because you don’t know what’s going to happen.
Narration: The Selfreliance Association is a Chicago-based nonprofit aimed at welcoming new arrivals from Ukraine.
Levko-Sendeha: The biggest part would be the filling out of all the legal paperwork, the application for the employment authorization documents, as well as Social Security numbers, so people can stay here legally and being able to work and have their lives.
Narration: Selfreliance helps many Ukrainians find a home in Chicago, including thousands that are here under the Temporary Protected Status.
Levko-Sendeha: They are all nervous because some of them did apply to extend their TPS status, Temporary Protected Status, here in the United States, but some of them cannot. Of course, they don’t want to go back, because then they know that they have a safe tomorrow here, that they can put down their roots and become great American citizens. But because of everything now that’s happening, they don’t know what to do. They don’t know how tomorrow is going to look like.
Narration: But the worry isn’t just felt by their clients but by members of their staff, including Angela Savenko. Angela and her family came to Chicago a little over a year ago, and with the help of Selfreliance and the Ukrainian community, she has been able to create a life here.
Angela Savenko, employment counselor at Selfreliance Association: Everyone was so supportive for us. For my kids, the first two months were extremely hard, but for now, they are happy. My son said, this is the happiest day in their life. And he said, that’s twice already here. And, I have never heard that word in Ukraine.
Narration: Angela says she is concerned about where she and her family would go if Trump were to revoke their immigration status.
Savenko: “It’s very hard. I mean, it’s very hard because we’re here because of war. If they cancel this program, I will be illegal here. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t pay taxes, I couldn’t drive a car. I couldn’t imagine in what country we should escape to.
Narration: The constant changes worried many, but Selfreliance and Angela like to remember the support they received from the Chicago community through these three years of turmoil.
Levko-Sendeha: The outpour from the community was unbelievable. Everybody’s trying to help, and everybody is trying to do something. We had an unbelievable amount of people that brought in humanitarian aid supplies. They brought in medical supplies. They brought in hygiene supplies, so we can make sure that they’re being helped.
Savenko: I face so much support here from Americans. And it’s like, you know, truly support, which came from the heart. Even if we’re forced to leave, America, I will always remember that. Ordinary people, all of us, think about America as friends, in a good way, because you’re extremely supportive. You’re extremely kind. And, yeah, we are all of us in our heart.
Narration: From the Loop, Catie Lacovara, Medill Reports.
Catie Lacovara is a graduate student specializing in Video and Broadcast. You can connect with her on LinkedIn
