Human Rights First Condemns U.S. Government’s Deportation of Ukrainians into Active War Zone

Washington, D.C. — Human Rights First is deeply alarmed by the U.S. government’s deportation of 50 Ukrainians earlier this week via Poland and reiterates warnings that conditions in Ukraine are not safe for returns. Our ICE Flight Monitor tracked the deportation flight in real time, following its departure from Phoenix, Arizona, until it landed on Tuesday, November 18th, in Jasionka, Poland, near the Ukrainian border.

“There is no safe place to hide in Ukraine – cities, towns, and villages from east to west are being hit by Russian missiles and drones. The whole country is a war zone,” said Brian Dooley, Senior Advisor, Human Rights First, who has visited Ukraine dozens of times since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.

On Thursday, following Wednesday’s deadly aerial attack in Western Ukraine, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) issued a warning that “no part of the country should be considered safe.” Deportations at this time run counter to UNHCR assessments calling on all States not to forcibly return Ukrainian nationals—including individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected—due to the ongoing armed conflict and pervasive risks. While voluntary return is a right, including for Ukrainians in the United States, any such returns must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to ensure the safety and rights of those returning. U.S. officials should not coerce Ukrainians into ‘accepting’ returns by threats of prolonged detention or removal to a third country. Human Rights First strongly cautions against premature returns, as they endanger lives, are often unsustainable, and can be destabilizing.      

“With armed conflict raging and deadly aerial attacks, it is abundantly clear that this is not the time for returns to Ukraine,” said Eleanor Acer, Senior Director for Global Humanitarian Protection. “Sending people with U.S. citizen spouses and children into a war zone will devastate their U.S. families. Any returns to Ukraine in these life-threatening circumstances must be truly and completely voluntary.”