In New York State, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained two Ukrainian citizens who previously arrived in the country under a humanitarian assistance programme for refugees. Lawyers are attempting to secure their release through federal court, insisting that their clients had legal grounds to remain on the territory of the United States.
Circumstances of Vitaliy Stavnytskyi's detention
One of the detainees is 59-year-old Vitaliy Stavnytskyi. He is a former employee of the Ukrainian police. During Russia's full-scale invasion, the man participated in the evacuation of the civilian population from Mariupol.
According to the defence, ICE representatives detained Stavnytskyi at a petrol station near Buffalo. Lawyers note that their client's humanitarian permission to stay in the US is valid until May 2028.
Roman Serdyuk's case
The second detainee is Roman Serdyuk, a seafarer from Mariupol. He entered the US under the Uniting for Ukraine programme, designed for Ukrainians who were forced to leave their home country due to military hostilities.
Serdyuk's lawyer claims that his client submitted documents for the extension of his humanitarian status in a timely manner. Despite this, immigration authorities still placed him under detention.
Court ruling and deadlines
Both cases are being heard separately in court. The defence is demanding clear explanations from the authorities regarding the grounds on which ICE continues to hold the men.
In Roman Serdyuk's case, a federal judge set a deadline for providing justification for the detention — by 12 November. The court also temporarily prohibited transferring the detainee to another judicial district.
Regarding Vitaliy Stavnytskyi's case, similar explanations from the authorities are expected by 13 November.
Legal context
At this stage, this does not concern final court rulings, but rather a review of the legality of detaining citizens. Lawyers remind that the mere fact of submitting an application to extend a humanitarian permit does not always guarantee protection from detention or deportation.
These incidents highlight the situation of Ukrainians who arrived in the US under humanitarian programmes and have encountered immigration control.
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