Ukrainian refugees made a home in Iowa, but their future is uncertain

Podcast: Talk of Iowa · Iowa Public Radio

Opublikowano: 2026-10-09

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, millions of Ukrainians were displaced, searching for a safe place to live and work. Augustana College professor Angela Boelens saw this need and opened her home in DeWitt to Ukrainians, with more families hoping to follow. With an outpouring support from the DeWitt community, Boelens founded the nonprofit organization IA NICE — Iowa Newcomer Integration Community and Exchange — which has helped relocate over 70 Ukrainians to Iowa. However, changes from the Trump Administration have impacted their ability to work, including a pending end to their Temporary Protected Status. On this episode, we talk with Boelens about what IA N...