Existing communities in cities such as Sacramento and Seattle have already mobilized to offer food, shelter, and support for those fleeing war.
Although the federal government has not yet stated when the formal resettlement process would begin, Ukranian groups in the U.S. have already provided support for people who entered the country via other channels. These include visas that will expire, or flying to Mexico to cross the border.
Eduard Kislyanka (senior pastor at the House of Bread church in Sacramento), said that no refugee is currently waiting for him to be ready. The church has been sending teams of people from Poland to prepare dozens of families to host people arriving in California.
Over 4 million people have fled Ukraine since February, and millions more have been forced to flee the country. Last week, President Joe Biden stated that the U.S. would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees as well as provide $1 billion in humanitarian aid to countries affected.
The federal government has not yet provided details about where and when refugees will be resettled. This is often a long process that can take a while. It is unlikely that the United States will experience a large influx of Ukrainians via military and charter flights, as happened last year with Afghan refugees.
President of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Krish O’Mara VIgnarajah said that the White House’s commitment to accepting 100,000 Ukrainians is not a minimum. She said that aside from the refugee resettlement programme, the main avenues for them will be humanitarian parole and appearance at the border to Mexico.
Many people who travel to the United States from Ukraine will choose to live in cities with strong Ukrainian communities.
According to Census data analyzed and published by the Migration Policy Institute, the Sacramento region has the largest concentration of Ukrainian immigrants, approximately 18,000 people. These hubs include New York City, Chicago, and Seattle.
The word is spreading about Sacramento’s resources. Churches like House of Bread have been connecting Ukrainians arriving in Sacramento with host families that can provide shelter, transportation and access to government resources. Kislyanka described the church’s actions as a “stop-gap” measure that was meant to assist people who are still waiting for more information about the formal government resettlement process.
Kislyanka, a Russian-American child who arrived in the U.S. in the early 1990s, stated that most of the people are not related to anyone. “Having someone who can help them navigate cultural shock and navigate system. . . It just makes life so much easier and more enjoyable.
Since the 1980s and 1990s, Sacramento has been a popular destination for Ukrainians. Many of them arrived as Christians fleeing persecution in the former Soviet Union.
After the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014, another wave of refugees started arriving. Vanassa Hammera, the community engagement manager at World Relief, stated that 3,000 of the 8,000 Ukrainians who were resettled by World Relief in 2014 have arrived in Sacramento.
There are many Slavic churches throughout the Sacramento region. However, schools in the area that cater to mostly Ukrainian and Russian students exist. Eastern European restaurants and grocery stores offer traditional foods such as borscht (a type of beetroot soup) and varenyky (a boiled dumpling). Ukrainians start businesses to help others in their country.
This makes it easier for younger people and older immigrants to feel connected to their heritage.
It’s easy to get around here. Oleksandra Daktsenko, a Lithuanian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. six-years ago, said that every door is open to her. She works as a waitress at Firebird East European Restaurant which serves Eastern European cuisine in a Sacramento suburb.
Valeriy Goloborodko immigrated to Southern California in 2006. He wanted to return to Ukraine and settled in Seattle with his wife. He found a vibrant Ukrainian community there and was elected honorary consul to the country in Seattle in 2015. In 2015, he helped organize an annual festival that saw as many as 16,000 people attend to eat traditional Ukrainian food, listen to Ukrainian music, and wear traditional embroidered clothes.
Goloborodko stated that the Ukrainian community in Washington made it feel like home. “We feel as if this is Little Ukraine.”
Goloborodko, as well as others from the Washington state Ukrainian community, have been lobbying hard for state support since the invasion. Democratic Governor. Jay Inslee pledged that Washington would welcome Ukrainians fleeing violence. The Legislature has allocated nearly $20 million to cover the anticipated costs of housing and job training, as well as health care, legal aid, and other expenses for Ukrainian refugees. The Port of Seattle promised to welcome refugees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. They can then be connected to services.
The state’s housing crisis in Sacramento could be a problem as community organizations and resettlement agencies look for accommodation for new residents. The region is experiencing a housing shortage with rising rents and limited supply, much like California.
“People are coming to us; we can help; we can give something.” It’s going to get overwhelmed so quickly,” stated Kislyanka (head pastor at House of Bread).
Lisa Welze (director of IRC Sacramento) said that the International Rescue Committee’s Sacramento branch already has an affiliated immigrant welcoming center that is helping illegal immigrants. Many people are reluctant to speak with resettlement agencies, but they need resources — especially housing — and help navigating the immigration system in order to find legal pathways to stay.
Welze stated that the formal resettlement process will start when it is most appropriate.
