March 2022

On March 11, AERA joined more than 30 organizations on a letter to the White House, leaders of the Departments of State and Homeland Security, and congressional leaders urging action on immigration rules and research programs to aid Ukrainian students and researchers and their families.

The letter included several recommendations for executive action, such as:

• Agencies should use research programs—including grants, scholarships, and stipends—to help Ukrainian students and researchers establish themselves in the United States or in friendly third-party nations where collaborations already exist.
• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should expedite the issuance of travel documents, diplomatic notes, and letters of support to facilitate the evacuation of at-risk Ukrainian students and researchers.
• The State Department should designate Ukrainian students and researchers as admissible for refugee status under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Priority 2 Designation.

The letter also called on Congress to take any steps needed to consider a legislative solution for Ukrainian students and researchers arriving on humanitarian parole and those currently in the U.S. applying for legal residence; and to pass and fund humanitarian aid legislation to support researchers in Ukraine.

The letter follows a statement that AERA made in February in support of the people of Ukraine and condemning the invasion and attacks on those living in Ukraine.