The United States promised help to Russians fleeing the draft, and now they are being deported or kept in prison

Many Russians trying to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine have made dangerous trips to the United States, relying on the administration of US President Joe Biden that the United States is "supporting" those fleeing the war and being forced into it. What happens to the Russians who are trying to get into the United States, the publication said Yahoo!.

Photo: IStock

In fact, instead of asylum, some Russians were detained and deported back to Russia. Since the beginning of October 2022, the US has deported about 190 Russians, almost three times more than in the entire previous year.

Some Russian conscripts refuse to board deportation flights, forcing US immigration officials to return them to immigration detention and legal limbo.

Three Russians who were detained by the United States and wanted to be deported said that certain charges await them at home, and draft evaders could be jailed or immediately sent to the front lines.

“If I go back, death awaits me there,” said a young man in his 20s. He was supposed to be deported, but he collapsed when immigration officials loaded the guy onto the plane, forcing them to return the evader to custody.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russians opposed to the war to stay at home and fight to overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Biden administration has encouraged Russians who do not want to fight in Ukraine to seek asylum in the United States.

“There are people in Russia who don’t want to fight in Putin’s war or die for it,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in September. “We believe that regardless of citizenship, they can apply for asylum in the United States and their application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.” We support everyone who seeks asylum, and they should do so.”

But the Russians, who accepted this US offer, soon realized that asking for asylum was not the same as receiving it. The willingness of the US government to help people fleeing Russia, even if it undermines the Russian military effort, is limited.

On the subject: 'I'm not ready to sit and wait': a Russian fled from the Russian Federation and is fighting on the side of Ukraine

In some cases, the government has argued that conscription into the Russian army is not in itself sufficient grounds for granting asylum. Jennifer Scarborough, a lawyer for the three Russians, argued that they were eligible for asylum because they did not want to participate in the war for political reasons and would face unreasonable consequences for refusing to serve.

“They could be deported back to a regime that commits gross human rights violations,” she said. “I don’t understand how we refuse the Russians at all.”

The number of Russians crossing the southern U.S. border skyrocketed in November and December 2022 shortly after Putin, facing massive casualties among his troops, ordered a new army mobilization and called in up to 300 reservists.

Russians crossed the southern border more than 5000 times in November and nearly 8000 times in December 2022, significantly more than in previous months.

More than 8 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Putin launched his invasion on February 24, 2022. They were largely welcomed in other countries.

And many of those who fled from Russia used the same difficult and sometimes dangerous route that refugees from all over the world traveled in an unfavorable direction for themselves. A flight from Dubai or Istanbul takes them to South America, where they continue to fly, bus ride, and even hike north, sometimes wading through the jungle to get to Mexico and the US border.

One person who spoke to reporters was detained by immigration officials in December near Tecate. The man made a week-long trip to the United States with his younger brother - he fled Russia when he received a summons.

“Even as a child, I understood that for me America was a symbol of freedom,” he admitted. “And yes, I had a dream to one day move here, because throughout your life in Russia it is difficult, you are discriminated against at every step.”

“I went through the war,” the man noted. “I know what this entails.” I saw the war. And now they are trying to force me to bring this to Ukraine.”

Due to his belonging to a minority in Russia, the man likely had additional asylum claims, experts said. But he said he was not given the opportunity to properly claim his asylum rights to the immigration officers who accepted him. Pauses for translation and the complexity of his story made it hard to convey just how dire his circumstances were, he said.

“Some people were crying,” he said of other asylum seekers. “But I saw the war.” I don't have those emotions anymore. Maybe I should have cried too, I don’t know.”

His brother's asylum application and appeal were rejected so quickly that the young man had already been deported back to Russia. There, according to the man, his brother is hiding at home, not wanting to go out, fearing that he will be captured and sent to the front if the Russian authorities find him.

The older brother was luckier. In August, U.S. officials agreed that he could seek asylum in immigration court, Scarborough said. He can't be deported while the trial is going on.

Another Russian who spoke to reporters from a Louisiana detention facility where he spent seven months said he fled his country after receiving a draft notice last fall. He explained that he did not want to participate in the war against Ukraine.

“I can’t say that I have a deep understanding of geopolitics, but I think that there is no benefit from this war for Russia. This is a senseless war,” said the detainee.

The mother supported her son's decision to flee Russia.

“She said she hoped to see me soon,” he admitted, even though he knows the reunion may never happen.

By the time the man crossed the southern border in October (following a flight from Dubai to Mexico City), he was ready to seek asylum in the US, but an immigration judge ordered his deportation.

“Fear of being called up for military service is not a basis for obtaining asylum,” the judge said in the ruling, according to court records provided by the Russian’s lawyer. “Laws regarding compulsory military service are generally not grounds for asylum.”

The man was in ICE custody almost from the moment he arrived in the United States. His mother told him in one of their casual phone conversations that one day Russian officials showed up at their door, looking for him. The draft dodger stressed that he is now in a safer place, although it is a detention center and he faces a deportation order.

ICE officials eventually tried to deport him and took him to the airport in January for a flight to Russia. ICE staff took the man to the airport, but he refused to board the plane and was taken back to the detention center.

Then in May, his lawyers were able to secure his release in the United States. Now he can apply for asylum in the immigration court.

Why Russians are not given asylum

Asked why Russians fleeing the draft do not meet the asylum standard, which is supposed to demonstrate that they have a legitimate fear of persecution or death, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Majorcas, replied: “The question of plausible fear, the definition of plausible fear is very specific. case specific, individual definition. Our experienced asylum officers make these decisions based on the facts provided to them, as well as their background information on the conditions of the country. After evaluating the person directly in front of them, his case and claims, the officers pass their verdict.

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The Russian whose fainting saved him from deportation fled his country last fall and crossed the US border in December.

He told the officers that he could be drafted and sent to war, something he desperately wanted to avoid. And his fears were confirmed: the mother told her son that he had received a call-up notice. His lawyer later passed the notice on to US officials.

This man's claim was also denied and the immigration judge ordered his deportation.

According to the man, while in custody, he went on two hunger strikes in protest against the planned deportation. The Russian admitted that he stopped his last hunger strike at the end of April, after he learned that he would be force-fed. The man fears for his life in Russia in case of deportation.

“Now they consider me a deserter,” he remarked. He had heard rumors that deportees were "disappearing" - falling into the hands of the Russian authorities and lost to their families.

In May, a lawyer gave him the opportunity to file his asylum case with an immigration judge. According to the lawyer, he cannot be deported unless he loses in immigration court. However, he has not yet been released, although he will have a chance to pay a $20 bail.

The man wants the court to know that he is afraid to return to Russia.

“It’s dangerous for me there,” he stressed.

ICE said in a statement that it is committed to enforcing immigration laws "humanely, efficiently and professionally."

“ICE facilitates the transportation and removal of non-citizens by commercial airlines and charter flights in accordance with mission requirements,” the agency spokesman explained. “ICE carries out exports to countries, including Russia, in accordance with the deportation guidelines.”

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