JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ukrainian citizens have been fleeing the war-torn country since Russia’s invasion started on Feb. 24. Over three million people have left the country successfully — some even making a days long journey to Jacksonville —but for some families, getting their loved ones here has been a journey.
“My daughter is married to a wonderful man who came here from Ukraine,” Deborah Testa said.
Testa’s son-in-law, Misha Gryb, is Ukrainian. He came to the U.S. with very little, worked odd jobs, built his new life.
Now, he’s a citizen and owns his own business.
“He is or was the American dream until this just happened.”
Which is why when he found out what happened, he thought he’d be able to get his family; his mother, sisters, nieces and nephews, to the U.S. to stay with him.
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Testa explained how his family traveled through Ukraine: “they all piled into one car, eight people.”
They drove as bombs and gunfire rang out throughout the country amid the chaos.
“They took off. When they took off, bombs are going off in the background, so they were petrified.”
While they drove, Misha guided them from his home in St. Augustine using the smart phone he had gotten for his mother the last time she visited him in the states.
“He got them a smart phone with GPS. And he guided them for days. Through the streets because they hit one roadblock after another.”
After days of driving they got to the Polish border, where Deborah’s family hoped to get them on a plane to safety. They realized only Misha’s mother had a green card that would allow her to come to the states. But, she wouldn’t leave her daughters and grandkids alone in a foreign country. Deborah spoke on how frustrating it was knowing they were alone.
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“We didn’t think there would be any roadblocks. I mean these people, are now in Poland who don’t really know anybody.”
The family had left their husbands behind in Ukraine; men are currently not allowed to leave the country as the war continues. But as they tried to get their family back, the chances look more and more bleak.
Deborah watched, astounded they couldn’t just bring their family home to safety. “We thought, well of course the United States is going to allow them to come here.”
The family called immigration attorneys, senators, congressmen - they were all told the same thing: you had to have an established visa to get into the U.S.
It’s a frustration the family says they keep running into. People think refugees can easily come here.
“President Biden said last week, “we will welcome Ukrainians with open arms.’ If they can get here. But they can’t! They can’t get here.”
Action News Jax took a look at the visa allowances laid out by homeland security right now.
Ukrainians who were already in the country on March 1 will have a temporary protected status for 18 months - otherwise, the U.S. is not currently accepting visa applicants from the Ukraine.
The government has also updated their refugee guidance to clarify anyone seeking refugee status should contact the United Nations Refugee Agency or local authorities - and specifically say Ukrainians should not apply for a visa.
Deborah’s family hopes President Biden enacts the Humanitarian Parole ability he has to allow refugees into the country.
“That would give them temporary status over here until it’s safe to go back. They want to go back home! That’s their country. They love their country.”
She says they just want to get their family to safety until they can get back to their home.
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“We beg you. We beg you to allow our family members to come here. We’re on our hands and knees. It’s just, they’ve been through enough. They’ve lost everything.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe for their families struggles.
They also have a Change.org petition set up to show America Law Makers there is support behind allowing Ukrainian Refugees into the states.
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