Three Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees Detained in Immigration Case

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, November 7, 2026, Three Ukrainian nationals who entered the United States through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program have found themselves in immigration detention despite having no reported criminal records, according to New York attorney Elena Dvoinik.

Vitaliy Stavnisty, 59, a retired Ukrainian police officer and humanitarian volunteer from Zaporizhia, Ukraine, has been detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York. Stavnisty, who used his personal resources to help evacuate thousands of civilians from Mariupol and other war-affected areas during Russia's invasion, entered the U.S. through the U4U program. His humanitarian parole remains valid through May 2028. However, on October 18, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Stavnisty at a gas station in the Buffalo area. He remains detained, with federal habeas corpus proceedings pending in the Western District of New York.

Stavnisty's attorney, Elena Dvoinik, argues that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not provided an adequate explanation for his arrest and continued detention. In Stavnisty v. Ball et al., No. 1:26-cv-02482-JLS, U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. issued an order on October 30, 2026, directing the government to respond by November 13 and address applicable Second Circuit precedent.

Roman Serdiuk, a Ukrainian national from Mariupol and a professional international seaman, was also detained. Serdiuk, who has a bachelor's degree in navigation, entered the U.S. through the U4U program. ICE arrested him on September 28, 2026, at a gas station in the Buffalo area. He remains detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York. An immigration judge denied his bond request for lack of jurisdiction, citing Barbosa da Cunha v. Freden, 175 F.4th 61 (2d Cir. 2026). His attorney is challenging this determination.

In Serdiuk v. Ball et al., No. 1:26-cv-02567-LJV, U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo issued a November 5 order prohibiting Serdiuk's transfer outside the Western District of New York and directing the government to show cause by November 12, 2026, why his habeas petition should not be granted. The federal proceedings remain pending.

Igor, an international tanker driver who assisted civilian evacuations, was released on a $25,000 bond with electronic ankle monitoring. Following the hearing, ICE transferred him to the Jackson Parish detention facility in Louisiana. He was subsequently released after the bond was posted. Igor now lives in Pennsylvania under ICE supervision and is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, despite having no reported criminal record. He remains subject to immigration reporting requirements while his proceedings continue.

Both federal habeas proceedings remain pending. No final decisions on their merits have been issued.