Report: Trump to deport Ukrainians back to their homeland
The Trump administration is gearing up to send Ukrainians back to their war-torn homeland, with 80 people being targeted for removal if the plan reaches fruition. A Justice Department court filing reviewed by the Washington Post revealed the government plans and names of those Ukrainians on the removal list. Andrey Bernik stated in an interview with the Post that ICE officers recently told him he would be sent to Poland on a charter flight, where he would then be transferred to Ukrainian authorities.
'I deserve to get deported, but not in the war zone — not where the war is right now,' Bernik said. 'How can you deport me somewhere where the war is?' Bernik said. Roman Surovtsev, 41, will reportedly be sent back to Ukraine as early as Monday. His lawyers noted that others are being told they will be sent on military flights to either Ukraine or Poland Monday.
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, said there are about 80 Ukrainians who have final orders for removal from the country, because of 'violations of US law' and that US officials are planning the operations to send these Ukrainian nationals back. Stefanishyna also mentioned that officials are 'taking into account the absence of direct international air service to Ukraine.'
Ukraine's ambassador backed the administration's plans saying that deportation is a 'widely used legal mechanism' and that 'it is a routine procedure.' Recent ICE data shows that there were 53 Ukrainians removed from the US in 2024. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said that ICE cannot confirm details of future deportation operations, but that Ukrainian national Surovtsev had 'received full due process,' something they claim every detainee has the chance to make their case before they are forced to leave the country.
Ukraine, although historically hesitant to work fully with the US in the past over deportation efforts, has changed their tune in cooperating with the United States as they have become more dependent and optimistic of Trump's helps in their fight against Vladimir Putin and Russian attacks, including providing resources. An advisor to Ukraine's president, who spoke to the Washington Post on terms of anonymity, said, 'The US can deport as many as they want… We'll find good use for them.'
Lawyers for Surovtsev told the Post that they are concerned for Ukrainians being at risk for removal without being given an opportunity to fight back on their deportations, calling it 'unlawful.' 'Ukraine is a war zone, currently under martial law, and it is likely that any deportees will be forcibly drafted into the army and sent to the front where they face a high likelihood of death ,' they put out in a statement.
Russian forces have continued to escalate attacks across Ukraine, launching one of the largest drone and missile barrages on Kyiv in months, killing several civilians and damaging residential buildings and energy infrastructure . Ukraine has responded with strikes on strategic sites inside Russia, including facilities tied to oil exports, briefly disrupting operations at the port of Novorossiysk.
Friday, the latest attack in Ukraine resulted in six people dead and 35 more wounded. An immigration judge reportedly ordered Surovtsev to be deported back in 2014 – around that same time period, Ukrainian officials could not confirm whether to not he was a citizen. Russia refused to take him into their country. ICE then released him into the US eventually, since it is illegal to hold detainees endlessly. In August he was arrested again.