The Trump administration is taking action to prohibit and remove refugees and asylum seekers from countries experiencing war, civil war, natural disaster, famine, and other threats to safety and health. Today, the Supreme Court approved Trump’s initiative to remove protected status from refugees from Haiti and Syria so they can be deported. Some in the Trump administration advocate removing refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Sudan and other countries.

Please contact Rep. Mike Simpson to co-sponsor and support House Resolution 3104, the Ukraine Adjustment Act, which can protect Ukrainian refugees here in Pocatello. This bill permits Ukrainian nationals who have been legally paroled into the United States after Feb. 20, 2014 (when Russia attacked Ukraine), to apply for and receive lawful permanent resident status. This bill is referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary but is not in current action. There are 33 current co-sponsors, and Mike Simpson is not one of these.

Ukraine refugees here in Pocatello are new Americans who live legally. They start and run their own businesses, contribute to the community, pay taxes and more.

Larry Gebhardt, past president of Pocatello Centennial Rotary Club and BRIDGES Idaho