They were engineers and entrepreneurs raising families in Ukraine before Russia invaded in 2022. Today, the three refugees, in the U.S. on U4U (Uniting for Ukraine) visas, work for Grab the Bagel based at the JCC in Marblehead. And they want to stay.
In January, President Donald Trump paused the U4U program, which provided a pathway for Ukrainian citizens to come to the U.S. for two years. It also allowed them to work here.
Then in March, Trump talked about revoking U4U visas altogether.
“I’m looking at that,” Trump said on March 6. “There are some people who think that’s appropriate, and some people don’t. I’ll be making a decision pretty soon.”
Trump did move to terminate visas for more than 500,000 people who entered the U.S. through a similar program for Cubans, Niucaraguans and Venezuelans. Many Ukrainians fear they could be next.
There are about 240,000 Ukrainians in the U.S. on U4U visas, including dozens on the North Shore.
Alla P., who asked that her last name not be used to protect her son back in Kiev, choked back tears as she described her homeland.
“Ukraine is very beautiful. The war is a tragedy for all people in my country,” she said. “They are destroying houses, destroying the lives and destinies of people. There are many dead civilians and animals.”
“It’s very scary,” Alla added, “because Russian soldiers abuse civilians a lot.”
She shudders whenever a plane flies above Marblehead, where she now lives. Her son, who is 27, sends her videos of bombing raids in his Kiev neighborhood. The two talk on the phone every day.
Yana and Sasha Spasov arrived in Massachusetts in the summer of 2022 and also work at Grab the Bagel. Also with U4U visas, they live in Lynn with their daughter, 3, and son, 1.
Grab the Bagel founder Dave Aldrich described how panicked Alla became when she heard Trump might pull U4U visas.
“I witnessed it, and it was pretty grim,” Aldrich said.
Even if they aren’t revoked, the U4U visas for Alla and the Spasovs expire in the spring of 2026. They do not want to return to Ukraine and hope to earn green cards by then.
“We want to stay legally in America,” he said. “We want to stay a part of this community.”
Immigration attorney Nancy Norman, who lives in Marblehead, advised Ukrainians here on U4U visas to consider applying for asylum as soon as possible.
“My office is continuing to submit asylum applications and other types of relief, and we’re receiving receipts, so the submissions are being accepted,” she told the Current. “I believe this will offer some protection. Information is being dispersed daily, and the rules are constantly changing.”
Aldrich is proud to work with his Ukrainian neighbors.
“These people are part of the fabric of who we are,” Aldrich told the Current. “They recognize the value of a work ethic. Believe me, you want them in your company.”
And the Ukrainians are grateful for Aldrich’s support and friendship.
“Dave changes lives,” Sasha said. “He gives us advice, tells us which way to go. He’s like family.”
Learn more about Grab the Bagel and its nonprofit work at grabthebagel.org. Aldrich and his team make about 2,500 bagels a week and sell them at the JCC, The Beacon Restaurant on weekends and at local farmers’ markets.
