Biden wants to greatly simplify the process of accepting refugees from Ukraine to the United States

The Biden administration's asylum plan will allow some Ukrainians, such as activists, journalists and members of the LGBTQ community, to at least temporarily enter the United States safely, reports NBC.

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As early as this week, the Biden administration is preparing to unveil a plan to speed up and streamline the resettlement of some Ukrainian refugees in the US, three people familiar with the plan said.

It will also speed up the reunification of Ukrainians with family members living in the United States, the sources said.

The exact powers that President Joe Biden will use to expedite the passage of Ukrainians remain unclear, the sources said. The White House, they said, views both the humanitarian parole, presidential powers that do not guarantee permanent legal status, and the Priority 2 designation program that has been used for Afghans and others leaving war zones.

The White House declined to comment on the details of the plans.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on March 21 that Biden would thank Polish President Duda during his upcoming trip to Europe for Poland's role in hosting refugees and "talk about what we can do to continue to provide support." Psaki also said there are ongoing internal discussions within the White House about what else can be done to take in refugees.

On the subject: Asylum seekers from Russia are not allowed to enter the United States from Mexico

Psaki said last week that the Biden administration would accept Ukrainian refugees but expected most of them to want to stay in Europe.

Mark Hatfield, president and CEO of Jewish-American humanitarian organization HIAS, said groups like his called on the administration to give Ukrainians full protection to live and work in the US.

"In general, we are calling for them not to bring in refugees the same way they brought in Afghans - through a humanitarian parole without any path to aid, status or family reunification," Hatfield said. “They should bring in Ukrainians the same way they brought in refugees from Macedonia in 1999—finishing the refugee case once they get to the U.S. to give them all the protections they are entitled to as refugees.”

Biden administration officials say they believe most Ukrainians want to eventually return to their homes and will therefore choose to seek safety in Europe, so plans for them to stay permanently in the US may not be necessary, sources said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, more than 3 million Ukrainians have fled their homes. The US has promised to help them, but so far, thousands have reportedly resorted to trying to cross the southern US border in search of asylum, a dangerous process that does not guarantee safe passage or permanent protection.

Immigration advocates have called on the administration to help not only Ukrainians, but also Central American and Haitian migrants who have been repeatedly returned to the border under Section 42, a policy put in place by the Trump administration to prevent the spread of Covid.

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Unlike asylum seekers who show up at border stations, formal refugees who resettle in the US are brought in legally and usually receive support services to start a new life.

While the Biden administration granted Ukrainians temporary protected status, it only applies to those who were in the US on March 1, immediately after the Russian invasion began on February 24.

While Biden set a goal of resettling 125 refugees from all countries in the US this fiscal year, fewer than 000 people were resettled in the first five months, according to refugee resettlement agencies.

The Obama administration set a goal to take in 10 Syrian refugees in fiscal year 000 as the civil war devastated Syria, and he met the target ahead of schedule.

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