Katarina Kirilova
Appearances
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
It's not like I don't want to go to Ukraine, but I want to leave. I want to feel safe. And right now, my country can't give me that.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
It was my hometown. It was close to the sea. I spent a lot of time at the beach. I had friends there. All my life was there.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
Like every 10 minutes, something was just burning down. And yeah, of course it was scary. It was really scary. I had a grandma, but she died during the war. Her house was bombed. I had my apartment in Mariupol, but it also was bombed and burned down.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
It was my dog and a backpack. Yeah, that's it.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
A few T-shirts, because, yeah, I left Ukraine only with my dog. Because, yeah, my apartment burned down with everything I had, so...
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
I lived with them for a few, for the first two months. Then I found a job and rented my own place. And I did the right thing, you know, like I worked. I never got any benefits. I paid my taxes.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
So right now, like, we're all just waiting, waiting for, I don't know, for something.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
Like, I have nothing bad to say about America, but what current government is doing to immigrants, to people who came over here legally, it's cruel to do it to people who doesn't have a place where to go. I feel like I'm being forced to leave.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
I was able to survive once and escape. And I'm not sure if I'm going to be lucky enough to do it again. But I don't have much of a choice at this point.
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
overwhelmed. Because, like, I don't understand what's next, you know? And, like, you have to figure out plan B. Like, the war is still there, and I can't go back to Ukraine. My city is still occupied, so we just But I can't live undocumented here either, so it just... I can tell that you're holding back tears right now. Yeah. It's hard not to have a home, and it's hard to understand that
The Journal.
A New Phase in Trump's Immigration Fight
There's no place where you can go. And to feel safe, at least. I felt like I finally got home. But now I feel like I'm losing it again. And it's hard.