U.S. allows Ukrainians fleeing the war to enter the country via Mexico

The United States government is allowing Ukrainians who are fleeing the war with Russia to enter the country through the Mexican border and remain in the U.S. for a year, reported Reuters.

The Ukrainians who entered through the border city of Tijuana were granted “humanitarian parole,” allowing them to stay in the U.S. until 2023 without being deported, according to a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official.

CBP has not responded to requests for comment.

According to the United Nations, more than 3 million Ukrainians have fled their war-torn country. Most of those fleeing have found refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland or Rumania.

However, hundreds of Ukrainians are also attempting to make their way to the U.S to find refuge, traveling through several Latin American countries along the way.

At least 310 Ukrainian refugees reached Tijuana by air this month, reported Mexico’s government delegate for Baja California, Jesus Ruiz Uribe.

"It's a crazy situation. Your life just stops," said a 24-year-old Ukrainian, Alex, as he waited to cross the border in Tijuana on Tuesday. "You can't plan for work because of the war, and you don't have work, you can't work."

"I want temporary protection," Alex said, "until the war stops. I know I don't want to be a refugee."

The U.S.-Mexico border has been closed to asylum seekers since the pandemic. However, border officials have moved Ukrainian refugees to the front of the immigration checkpoints at the border to hear their claims.