Russia's unprovoked invasion has displaced some 2 million Ukrainians in less than two weeks, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, making it "the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II." At our best, Americans and especially Californians take pride in our capacity to welcome the world's huddled masses. But that capacity isn't what it used to be.
President Joe Biden's administration last week answered calls to extend temporary protected status to Ukrainians who came to the United States before March 1, which is expected to help about 34,000 immigrants from the besieged country who would otherwise be vulnerable to deportation. According to one estimate, nearly a tenth of them are in California, which is home to an outsize share of the Ukrainian diaspora.
In the course of announcing a ban on Russian oil imports Tuesday, the president also rightly recommitted to sharing the cost of the refugee crisis with our European allies. His administration has asked Congress for $6.4 billion in new spending to address the war, including $2.9 billion in security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and its neighbors.
