'Some of them really don’t have any place to go back to'

In a recent discussion with U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, Ukrainian families who have settled in Farmington, New Mexico, expressed concerns about their immigration status.

All of the refugees were admitted to this country since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on a two-year humanitarian visa. For many of them, that two-year window will close in April.

“It’s just sort of in the wind right now,” said Rev. Rebecca Morgan, a member of the sponsor group who helped lead the meeting. “… Some of them really don’t have any place to go back to.”

Cynthia Rapp Sandu, another member of the sponsor group, said the Ukrainians have not received any answers about whether their visas will be extended, converted to a different type of status or revoked. That has impacted their ability to seek employment, enroll in college, or access job training or scholarship programs. As the war with Russia reaches a two-year mark, many say they have no idea what will become of them.

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