The administration of US President Donald Trump has faced a major scandal after dozens of Ukrainians legally residing in the country under humanitarian programs received letters demanding that they leave the United States within seven days, Reuters reported, citing the refugees’ own testimony. The emails claimed that their residence status had been revoked and that federal services would begin searching for them if they failed to comply. The threats caused panic among the recipients, many of whom fled to the United States after the conflict in Ukraine began, using temporary protection programs.

The messages, which arrived over the course of a week, were stark in their language. They said the Ukrainians had lost their right to legal residence, despite being in the country under officially approved humanitarian initiatives such as the Temporary Asylum Program (TPS). Recipients were given a week to leave voluntarily or risk coercive action by U.S. authorities. “The federal government will find you,” Reuters quoted one phrase in the letters, adding to the anxiety in the Ukrainian diaspora.

The situation gained wide publicity after several refugees sought clarification from lawyers and the media. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was forced to respond quickly. A representative of the department issued a statement admitting that the mailing was the result of a technical error.

"These emails were sent accidentally due to a glitch in our data processing system. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and are working to correct the situation," — the official noted, assuring that the status of Ukrainians remains in force, and the threats of deportation have no legal basis.

The incident is the latest challenge for the Trump administration, which has tightened immigration policies since he returned to power in January 2025. The US has stepped up its crackdown on illegal immigrants since the start of the year, with deportations up 15% compared to 2024, according to The Washington Post.