Comment Submitted by Anonymous

​I arrived in the U.S. from Ukraine under Humanitarian Parole due to the full-scale war. My family cannot return home, especially because we care for a child with a disability who requires a safe environment, continuous medical care, and specialized support. ​Since 2022, I have worked hard to contribute to the American economy and support my family. I started as a warehouse worker at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) and worked my way up to a supervisor position, spending four consecutive years in a secure, restricted airport zone. Replacing experienced, vetted workers in secure environments like airports is extremely difficult for employers, and my loss directly impacted workplace operations. ​Despite my dedicated work history and strong record, I was forced to leave my position solely because of severe administrative delays in processing my Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Because my EAD renewal was delayed, I was unable to renew my airport security badge on time. We even had to involve our local U.S. Congressman’s office just to try to resolve the EAD delay. ​The constant uncertainty surrounding work authorizations, combined with filing fees for protection we were forced to seek due to war, creates severe financial hardship and psychological stress for my family. ​I urge DHS to consider the real-world impact of these policies: ​1.Exempt current EAD holders from new restrictive requirements and burdensome delays that disrupt essential employment. ​2.Provide flexibility or exemptions for E-Verify requirements, ensuring that hard-working individuals are not abruptly separated from crucial jobs while waiting on administrative processing. ​3.Streamline EAD renewals so that reliable, trained employees can remain employed without losing their livelihoods due to processing backlogs.