Ukrainian family in Fort Myers faces uncertain future as immigration protections near expiration

The Tonkonoh family, who fled war and daily bombings in Ukraine, now faces an uncertain future in Fort Myers as their immigration protections near expiration. "It got even a lot worse," Sofiia Tonkonoh said while speaking about conditions in Ukraine. "I would say our country's being bombed every day." "Our heart is in pain because of what's going on in our country," she added. Sofiia, her two sisters, and her mother joined her grandmother, Olga Schultz, in Fort Myers in 2022 under President Joe Biden's Uniting for Ukraine program. Olga, a U.S. citizen and the widow of a U.S. veteran, fears her family may have to leave her behind. "I need my family because they will help me," Schultz said. "I have depression. I cannot live alone. I need my daughter and my grandchildren here with me, and I hope government will help us." Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians is set to expire on Oct. 19, and European countries are overwhelmed with refugees. The Tonkonoh family spent over $10,000 just yesterday to renew their status through Uniting for Ukraine, but there is no guarantee they can stay. According to the family, the process can take over a year. "America opened its door for us, and they created this program. Right now, we don't have any answers," Sofiia said. "I'm paying taxes here. I working so hard, and I'm doing everything like all the requirements of the government asking from me," said Viktoriia, Sofiia's mother. Ukrainian immigration attorney Ellen Freeman explained that there are limited paths for Ukrainians to obtain a green card, and sponsorship by a citizen family member could take years. However, she said Ukrainians on TPS could have more time. "Because the administration didn't make any announcement about the Ukrainian status and it's set to expire, the TPS is set to expire on October 19th. It's automatically extended for extra six months," Freeman said about the statute outlining TPS rules. "It should be the Secretary of Homeland Security who must make an announcement, as we remember, as Kristi Noem was doing. They're constantly too busy. Something else comes on their list as a priority. So, they missed the 60-day deadline." Despite this extension, three out of the four women in the Tonkonoh family are only protected under Uniting for Ukraine, not TPS, leaving their future in the U.S. uncertain. "We moved from a country that is being bombed every day. We started our lives here. Even if war finishes tomorrow, it's not going to be the same anymore, and we're not going to be the same anymore," Sofiia Tonkonoh said. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.