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(DEWITT, IA) -- Ukrainian families who fled the war in 2022 and found refuge in the small eastern Iowa town of DeWitt have been plunged into uncertainty, as a federal humanitarian program that allowed them to live and work in the U.S. has been suspended by the Trump administration.
The suspension of the 'Uniting for Ukraine' program has caused many refugees to see their work permits and driver's licenses expire, leaving them unable to work legally and in fear of deportation.
The situation is a stark contrast to the welcome the families received. A local nonprofit called IA Nice helped resettle more than 75 refugees in DeWitt, where they quickly found jobs and filled local labor shortages.
Now, local leaders and business owners say they are struggling to reconcile their support for hard-line immigration policies with the reality of losing valued workers and are petitioning Congress for a solution.