Tamila Vashchuk and her 10-year-old son, who asked not to be named, face deportation from the US after traveling to Ukraine for medical treatment. The family, who run a successful pierogi business in Bay Village, Ohio, were issued removal orders upon re-entry through Boston Logan International Airport in December 2022.
Background and Medical Need
Four years ago, Tamila noticed her son was not growing as expected. Facing high medical costs in Ohio, she and her son returned to Kyiv for affordable treatment. Before leaving, Tamila repeatedly consulted US Citizenship and Immigration Services and Customs and Border Protection officials, who assured her that their humanitarian parole stamps would allow re-entry without issues.
Legal Consequences
Upon return, an officer stated they had violated parole terms by leaving the US. Tamila and her son now face a court hearing in August that could lead to custody and deportation. Mykola, the father, does not face deportation as he entered the US only once.
“We were told repeatedly that due to the humanitarian parole stamps in our passports, we would be re-admitted to the US without any issues,” Tamila said. “The officer said: ‘Technically, you have broken the parole.’ Our brains were absolutely melted,” Mykola added.
Health Risks and War Conditions
If deported, the son’s hormonal deficiency requires daily refrigerated medication, which is nearly impossible in Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, reducing electricity generation capacity by 50%. The medicine supply is also unreliable, and the doctor said he must take it until age 18. “In our apartment building, there is no electricity, no fridge, no heating, no water,” Mykola said.
Immigration Court Challenges
Cleveland’s immigration court has high asylum denial rates, over 70% for years, according to TRAC at Syracuse University. The judge assigned to the Vashchuks’ case has the highest denial rate in the court. ICE agents regularly detain people there.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated: “In December of 2022, Tamila Vashchuk and her son … attempted to illegally re-enter the US through Boston, without valid travel documents. They were admitted to the US in June of 2022 under the Uniting for Ukrainians humanitarian parole program but traveled outside of the US without permission and without valid travel documents. They both will receive full due process, pending the outcome of their immigration proceedings in August.”
Broader Ukrainian Community Issues
Temporary protected status for an estimated 103,000 Ukrainian nationals ends in October 2025. The Trump administration froze the Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed over 235,000 people to enter. Russia’s assault has escalated, with recent attacks killing dozens in Dnipro, Kyiv, and Kharkiv.
Patrick Kearns, executive director of Re:Source Cleveland, said: “They have worked incredibly hard when they get here. They’ve been nothing but a boon to our economy. It’s unfortunate to see that our policies haven’t kept pace with where they were when we [first] welcomed these folks several years ago.” He called for the bipartisan Ukrainian Adjustment Act to provide a pathway to permanent residency.
Family’s Plea
The family has appealed for help from local politicians but received no response. “We have parents in Kyiv, and they say this is the worst it’s been,” Mykola said. Their food production business in Kyiv is on life support due to the war.
