That concern is shared by the Ukrainians who have come to Alaska over the past couple of years, says Issa Spatrisano. She’s the Alaska Refugee Services Coordinator for Catholic Social Services.
“I think right now, I think everybody … myself and others and clients themselves, are certainly looking to see what those changes may be,” she said. “Because they will have implications on themselves and frankly, on the town of Delta in many ways.”
Unlike undocumented immigrants who’ve entered the country, Spatrisano says the 801 Ukrainian newcomers that Catholic Social Services serves were authorized to come to Alaska. They’re here legally under federal programs that include refugee resettlement and asylum.
She said about 80 of those newcomers have settled in Delta Junction, most of them because they had family here.
“People didn’t just stumble into Delta Junction on accident,” she said. “They’re here because they had deep family roots here.”
In addition to family ties, Spatrisano says most of the newcomers want to stay in Alaska because they’ve found opportunity here. And Alaska benefits from their skills, she said.
“The state of Alaska unfortunately has been losing working-age adults for over a decade, you know, and the influx of Ukrainians who came into our state were good economic boon to our state,” she said. “Many of them highly skilled labor, many of them coming with skills and talents like construction, welding.”
Igor Zaremba is the mayor of Delta Junction. His family came here from Ukraine in the early 1990s, and he can attest to the newcomers’ work ethic and dedication to the community.
“Quite a few of them are working,” he said. “They’re actually buying land and beginning to build houses, like they’re planning on staying here.”
Kravets, the head of Catholic Social Services’ Delta office, says she’s seen that happen many times over the past couple of years. She cited a recent example.
“I had a lady with a daughter,” Kravets said, “she came September 5th, she started working September 10th. Full time.”
Spatrisano hopes Trump administration officials allow the Ukrainian newcomers to remain here, because of their strong work ethic, family ties and love for their new home in Alaska.
“At this point, it’s a waiting game,” she said, “and the only thing we know for certain is that the status of those newcomers are at the discretion of the president.”
And so, for the next few weeks, through the holidays and into the new year, the newcomers will continue to wait and watch and hope for the best.
Copyright 2024 KUAC
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Publish date : 2024-12-16 08:42:00
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