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A nonpartisan Iowa nonprofit is working to raise money to aid Ukrainians here under a Biden administration humanitarian parole program who received an email from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent in error that’s caused some uncertainty. Nonprofit Iowa Nice, which stands for Iowa Newcomer Integration Community and Exchange, says it’s helped around 76 people come from Ukraine to the United States. The nonprofit helps in a number of ways: connecting families with sponsors, providing financial support to newcomers for temporary housing and living expenses during the first few months of resettlement, connecting them with employers, and more. The president and founder of the organization, Angela Boelens, tells ����vlog a handful of the families the organization is connected with received the email. Dated April 3, 2025, the email from DHS starts off by saying, “It’s time for you to leave the United States” and that DHS is terminating parole. About a day later, a follow-up email from the department says the email the day before was sent in error and that “no action will be taken with respect to your parole as indicated in the April 3, 2025 e-mail."The wording of both emails, which were shared with ����vlog by Boelens, can be read at the end of this article. Boelens says there was panic and confusion when the initial email was sent. After the second email came through, some of that eased. While grateful for the correction, there’s still that uncertainty that remains, which is why Boelens and the volunteers with Iowa Nice are looking at the future and ways to help. “The fact is the U.S. government — our administration — does have the right to rescind and revoke temporary status that came through these humanitarian parole programs,” said Boelens. Returning back to Ukraine while the war continues is a concerning thought for some families. It’s one Boelens understands, after spending several days in the country back in March. “Even if the odds of them being personally hit by a bomb are low, they’re coming back into communities where all the windows are still boarded up with plywood,” said Boelens, recalling what she saw and heard from people in the communities she traveled through. “The playgrounds are still a mess. Some of the buildings have been repaired, but I would say most of them still look like they’re part of a warzone.” Boelens says Iowa Nice is now shifting its fundraising efforts. According to Boelens, she and the team almost completely stopped fundraising a few months ago because they were winding down the number of families that they’re helping. Now, they’re working on gathering donations to help cover legal expenses for Ukrainians they help. “A lot of them now also have thousands of dollars right now tied up in applications that were required for extension of their parole since the war is still going on. Those applications are not being processed. They’re just held in a holding pattern,” said Boelens. “But we’re trying to understand if those applications are not processed, is there a way for them to get that money back? Because they’re going to need those thousands of dollars just to buy airline tickets out of the U.S., or they’re going to need those thousands of dollars to handle all the legal issues that are going to come out of having to sell their houses, or just try to remain legal so they don’t become a criminal as a result of losing their legal status.” In the meantime, Boelens says she's spoken with Iowa lawmakers and lawmakers in D.C. — on both sides of the aisle.“They have heard us. They’re listening, and I do believe that they care,” said Boelens. They’re just trying to navigate for us a better solution.” You can find ways to help Iowa Nice here. Dated April 3, 2025, the initial email from DHS says the following: “Notice of Termination of Parole. It is time for you to leave the United States. You are currently here because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paroled you into the United States for a limited period. Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 212.5€, DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole. Unless it expires sooner, your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice. "If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States—unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here. Any benefits you receive in the United States connected with your parole—such as work authorization—will also terminate. You will be subject to potential criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties and any other lawful options available to the federal government. DHS encourages you to leave immediately on your own. You can use the CBP Home mobile app on your phone to make arrangements for your departure. If you are departing the United States via land, you should report your departure once outside the United States via that same app. If you are having trouble reporting your departure via land, visit https:/94.cbp.dhs.gov/home for more information about voluntarily reporting your departure."Again, DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States - the federal government will find you."Please depart the United States immediately.” Dated April 4, 2025, the second email from DHS says the following: “Retraction of Notice of Termination of Parole"We understand that yesterday, you may have received an email notification titled 'Notice of Termination of Parole.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent this email to you in error. No action will be taken with respect to your parole as indicated in the April 3, 2025 e-mail; the terms of your parole as originally issued remain unchanged at this time.”