WATERTOWN, S.D.(KXLG)- A Ukrainian family who sought refuge in Watertown from the ongoing war in their homeland is facing a critical deadline, with their humanitarian parole set to expire on August 17, 2025. This comes after their appeal for asylum was recently denied, leaving them with just 33 days to find a solution or face potential deportation back to war-torn Ukraine.

The Biliaze family, who South Dakota Searchlight previously highlighted for building a new life in Watertown, arrived in the U.S. through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. They fled Mariupol after their city was ravaged by the Russian invasion, enduring immense personal hardship and loss. In Watertown, they found support from a group of eight American sponsors from Cornerstone Church, led by Susan and Bruce Buhler, who helped them establish themselves, find work, and begin to integrate into the community.

Susan Buhler, a key sponsor for the family, expressed profound distress over the recent asylum appeal denial via a social media post, stating, “I’M SO ANGRY!!!! Our Ukrainian Family has been denied their appeal for asylum in a short amount of time! They have been given notice that their humanitarian parole will end on August 17th. THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD to RESTART their lives that were RIPPED away from them by Putin!” She highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, noting that Kyiv has been “incessantly bombed over the past few weeks,” with thousands killed and infrastructure destroyed. “How can America send these people back to that?” she implored.

The Biliaze family had applied for asylum last August, hoping to secure a more permanent legal status in the U.S. While they received new work permits in April, contingent on their asylum case remaining pending, the denial of their appeal significantly complicates their situation. The U4U program, under which they entered, was suspended for new applications and extensions earlier this year. However, a recent court order, dated June 9, 2025, has instructed USCIS officers to adjudicate all pending applications, including asylum and re-parole requests, for individuals under humanitarian parole programs, such as U4U.

Despite this broader development, the Biliazes’ specific asylum appeal has been rejected. This places them in a precarious position, as asylum typically requires proving a well-founded fear of persecution based on specific criteria, which can be a challenging legal hurdle even for those fleeing war. Their option now includes a further appeal to an immigration court, an option they do not have unless they enter into deportation proceedings.

The situation underscores the broader anxieties faced by many Ukrainian families in the U.S. who entered under humanitarian parole. While some legislative efforts, such as the “Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2025,” have been introduced in Congress to provide a pathway to permanent residency, their passage and implementation remain uncertain.

With just over a month remaining until their parole expires, the Watertown community, and particularly their sponsors, are rallying in support. “My heart is breaking as we LOVE these people SO MUCH!” Buhler wrote, urging prayers and assistance for the Biliaze family and all Ukrainian families facing similar circumstances.