Group helping Ukrainian refugees legally settle in Iowa heading to war zone

MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) - Amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, an Iowa-based nonprofit organization helping refugees legally settle in Iowa is heading overseas.

As KWQC previously reported, the Trump Administration’s crackdown on immigration now puts these refugees' legal status in doubt.

As the Trump Administration looks to score a peace deal between the fighting nations, executive orders issued earlier this year will put an end to renewals for various temporary protection statuses for Ukrainian refugees, which means they may soon need to go home.

However, founder of IA Nice Angela Boelens says: it is not safe for them to return, and is urging lawmakers to reverse those orders.

This is why Boelens was at the Quad Cities International Airport Wednesday night, awaiting a flight for a secured trip to Ukraine.

“We’re gonna be bringing back some, I believe, amazing video footage,” Boelens said. “Some personal stories that I think they will be interested in hearing more about, not to mention just first hand video documentation of the circumstances in the towns where these people left.”

As peace talks continue, Boelens continues to meet and talk to lawmakers, urging them to reverse course, to allow these Ukrainian families to renew their legal status, in the coming weeks and months.

“We continue to be encouraged,” Boelens said. “And just really to have an audience with them is amazing right now, given everything that’s going on in Washington. So we continue to be optimistic. It’s slow, but we cannot give up this fight. And we won’t.”

Although the trip could be a safety risk, Boelens says they will have a police escort, and have already made arrangements for a hotel, in a safe location, when they arrive in Ukraine, after multiple connecting flights.

On Wednesday, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a partial ceasefire, but there are still several steps before the two sides find a peaceful end to the conflict.