Comment Submitted by Mykola Volkogon

Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for noncitizens paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit are essential for enabling legal employment, supporting families, and contributing to local economies and communities. While I agree that individuals who have committed or been convicted of serious criminal acts should not receive a favorable exercise of discretion, my primary concern, as a Ukrainian previously granted Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole, is how this procedure will impact law-abiding parolees. Under the proposed framework, will parolees who actively work, pay taxes, and contribute positively to local communities be recognized and treated as law-abiding, valuable contributors? I urge the Department to ensure that the process clearly distinguishes between individuals with clean records who fulfill all obligations and those who pose safety or legal concerns, without imposing unnecessary burdens on productive workers and their employers.