On the four year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Catholic Charities Family and Community Services stands in solidarity with Ukrainian refugees in Rochester

Rochester, NY (February 24, 2026) – Four years into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Catholic Charities Family and Community Services (CCFCS) remains committed to helping Ukrainian families who fled the war and found safe haven in the Greater Rochester area. More than ever, this commitment is centered on legal assistance for Ukrainians who now face potential deportation due to ongoing changes in federal immigration policy.

Since the beginning of the war, CCFCS has helped resettle 2500 Ukrainian men, women and children in Rochester. Most of these individuals came to the U.S. humanitarian parole program called Uniting for Ukraine (U4U). Others applied for and received Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Asylum. These programs allow them to work in the U.S. while they pursue a path to stability and safe harbor for their families. Unfortunately, TPS is only slated to remain active until October 2026 and U4U has been suspended altogether. As policy scrutiny and enforcement actions intensify, an increasing number of families face precarious immigration status, delays in work authorization renewals, and anxiety about their ability to remain safely with their loved ones in Rochester.

“Families who escaped unimaginable hardship should not have to live in fear of losing their stability here,” says Getachew Beshir, CCFCS Director of Refugee, Immigration and Employment Services. “CCFCS is committed to helping our Ukrainian brothers and sisters by connecting them with trusted legal resources and ensuring they have access to basic necessities that allow them to rebuild their lives.”

CCFCS continues to act as the community’s primary assistance hub for Ukrainians who fled the war, provided resettlement services ranging from food, transportation and housing to employment assistance and legal immigration assistance and referral.  As part of this mission, CCFCS calls on policymakers to provide clear, compassionate and durable immigration solutions that protect vulnerable families and honor the U.S. tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing war.