Ukrainians deported from the U.S. are sent directly from the plane to the TCC
The U.S. deported several dozen Ukrainians, and some of them were sent to the TCC immediately upon their return. Some men didn’t even have time to go home—they were sent straight to training or military service. According to CNN reporters, a significant number of them were wanted for violating mobilization regulations.
In November, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 50 Ukrainian citizens—45 men and 5 women. Upon their return, they were first taken to Poland, and from there to Ukraine under the supervision of the relevant authorities. It was at the border that some of the men were immediately handed over to representatives of the TCC.
According to the State Border Guard Service, 24 of the 45 men were wanted. These were individuals who had not updated their information or had violated mobilization rules. They were handed over to the police and then to the territorial recruitment centers.
One of the deportees, Volodymyr Dudnyk, said he didn’t even have time to see his family. “When I was on the plane to Ukraine, I knew what was waiting for me. But I hoped that maybe they’d let me go home. Everything happened even faster than I thought. I didn’t make it home; I haven’t seen my parents yet,” he said. After returning, Dudnik spent 51 days at a training center and then spent several more weeks training as a drone operator. He is now fighting in eastern Ukraine under the call sign “America.”
Journalists also note that currently, about 2 million people in Ukraine are wanted for evading mobilization. This data is cited with reference to the Ministry of Defense. Separately, CNN reports on changes in U.S. immigration policy following Donald Trump’s return to power. The country has tightened controls and expanded deportation practices.
Despite the government’s claims that the priority is people with serious offenses, in practice, even those with minor violations or no criminal record at all are being deported. This creates uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of people who may face deportation. This is especially true for Ukrainians of draft age—for them, returning could mean immediate military service.
According to CNN, approximately 280,000 Ukrainians managed to enter the U.S. under the U4U program. The program has not been canceled, but the acceptance of new applications was halted following policy changes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services explained that status renewal is possible only in exceptional cases—if there are “compelling humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
Thus, for some Ukrainians abroad, the question of returning home is now linked not only to personal circumstances but also to the risk of being immediately drafted into the military.
Additionally, Stubbs urged the U.S. president to keep the focus on the war in Ukraine — Politico.
