Immigration Equality Deeply Concerned That Biden Made No Commitment to Help Nearly 700,000 Ukrainian Refugees

New York, NY (March 2, 2022) — In last night’s State of the Union Address, President Biden spoke at length about the war in Ukraine, but he did not address the massive refugee crisis stemming from Russia’s invasion. LGBTQ people and other vulnerable populations are among the nearly 700,000 Ukrainians in need of immediate protection. 

Statement from Aaron C. Morris, Immigration Equality’s Executive Director:

“Last night, we heard President Biden state unequivocally that the U.S. stands with the Ukrainian people. He described them as courageous, determined, and inspirational. At the same time, he made no mention of how the U.S. intends to support the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have become refugees. 

“Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to Poland more than any other country. While we laud the Polish people for welcoming those in need, we are also aware that the Polish government is rated by civil society as having one of the worst records on LGBTQ rights in the European Union. Consequently, for LGBTQ refugees, remaining in Poland is not a long-term solution. We are deeply concerned about their safety. The U.S. government must facilitate their immediate resettlement to safer nations.

“The United States has a great capacity to assist and accept people fleeing persecution. However, it can take years for a refugee to be resettled by the U.S. For LGBTQ refugees in unsafe nations, that remarkable delay can be deadly. We call on the president to expeditiously resettle LGBTQ refugees if he hopes to ‘keep lit the torch of liberty that has led generations of immigrants’ to the U.S.”