A Ukrainian family residing in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is self-deporting after fleeing the war with Russia. Serhai and Yelyzaveta Ponomarenko, along with their 4-year-old daughter Zlata, arrived in the United States through the United For Ukraine humanitarian program after spending two and a half years enduring wartime conditions in their home country.
During their time in Minnesota, the family integrated into the community: their daughter enrolled in local schools, they learned English, and Serhai started a plumbing business. However, their initial two-year visa is expiring, and the federal humanitarian program has ended.
Choosing to self-deport rather than overstay their visas, the family hopes this proactive step will preserve their chances of legally returning to the United States in the future. They also cited the stress of potentially becoming undocumented amid recent crackdowns and strict immigration enforcement policies as a major factor in their decision. Initially, they plan to travel to Europe for a couple of months while they determine their next steps and long-term living situation.
