Hilton Head Ukrainian refugee fears new immigration orders
Mar 25, 2025
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) -- Among the Trump administration's new executive orders on immigration policy includes ending Temporary Protective Orders or TPS for refugees, including those from Ukraine.
Olena Gnes came to the U.S. from Ukraine with her husband and three children more than two
years ago. She spent all of their money to get a flight out of war-torn Ukraine.
"The country I came to 2 years ago feels different that it does now," Gnes said.
In their time in the U.S., they have both gotten jobs, the kids are thriving in school, they live in their own home and no longer take government assistance.
Now, she says the recent policies of the Trump administration make her feel "unwelcome".
"I don't understand how we harm American society right now. What bad do we do to Americans?" said Gnes. "My husband is working at two piece as a pre loader. Is he stealing American jobs?"
As war refugees, the Gnes family was among the more than 200,000 people granted temporary protective status by the Biden administration. A status that the Trump administration says it is considering revoking. The President says he is "still deciding" if he will take away Ukrainian immigrants status.
If so, they could have 30 days or less to leave the country. This is another major change for children that have been uprooted from a home once already.
"I feel like I have to go. I feel that I am not welcome here anymore," said Olena.
"I have three children that I want to be happy. I have my daughter, Katya, who has PTSD. I am worried she can start self-harming again is if she loses stability, predictability, control, stress. Yes, so she can start trying to kill herself," said Gnes. "I want my children, to be happy. You know, I want them to live in this happy bubble. At least as an adult, as a parent, to create this illusion of safety and being protected and predictable. Wonderful world. I want to give it to them. My concern is how to make this transition that we are facing in a way that they will think it's something positive, that America didn't kick them out because I am embarrassed to tell them that America decided they have different values right now."
Gnes said her family is lucky, they have enough money to buy plane tickets to "escape". She feels concerned about the other refugees who do not and could be trapped or sent back to a war zone with no protection.
"I already passed this stage of fear, grief, regrets. I'm looking forward, and my personal decision now is to see where I can start over again and how I can present this as a positive move for my children."
A petition was started by the HHI for Ukraine group to ask the administration to uphold the Temporary Protective Order status for Ukraine refugees.
There will also be a Town Hall Meeting and discussion for anyone interested in the issue.
It will be held Wednesday, March 28 at 6 p.m. at the Palmetto Hall Clubhouse, 108 Fort Howell Drive on Hilton Head Island. ...read more read less