Deporting Ukrainian Refugees?

Hi Global Recap readers,

Thanks for all the great feedback on yesterday’s poll! As I was reading through your comments, I realized—just like many of you pointed out—that I didn’t phrase the question very clearly.

I asked something like, “Do you mind if I write longer ‘Thoughts’ pieces?” Most of you picked “no,” meaning you didn’t mind, but since “no” sounds negative while your responses were actually positive, it ended up being pretty confusing.

It actually confused me when I saw the poll result too—so yeah… my bad.

🌐 SOCIAL MEDIA
Musk Meme

Before we dive into the news, let me share this video with you.

• It’s a brilliantly edited clip of Elon Musk giving a speech after Trump’s inauguration—the one where he gave an enthusiastic salute. Some on one side call it a “Nazi salute,” while others say he was just overly eager.

• But here’s the twist: instead of the original setting, the creator superimposed the speech onto a very different location.

• I’m not sure if this was meant as a dig at Musk, but honestly, both the right and left seem to be loving it. 🤣

I’ve been meaning to share this for days, but every time, I remember right as I hit “send.”

So before I forget again, here it is for those who missed this meme.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Trump Eyes Deporting
Ukrainian Refugees

The Trump administration is reportedly considering revoking temporary legal status for thousands of Ukrainian refugees, potentially fast-tracking their deportation.

What’s Happening?

President Trump is mulling over whether to strip temporary legal protections from 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion.

• This would reverse the Biden-era humanitarian parole programs that welcomed them.

• Trump’s decision could come as early as April 2025.

• The administration is also planning to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.

Why Now?

This is part of a broader rollback of Biden’s immigration policies.

• Trump’s January 20 executive order called for ending all categorical parole programs.

• Migrants losing parole status could face expedited deportation.

• The administration argues these programs exceed the bounds of US law.

The Human Impact

For many refugees, this decision could be devastating.

• Ukrainian families, like Liana Avetisian’s, are left in limbo as their work permits and parole expire in May.

• Community leaders warn that many refugees have no homes to return to, as entire towns have been destroyed.

• This could just as easily spark resentment among Ukrainians worldwide—either against Zelenskyy, pressuring him to push for an end to the war, or against Trump. A double-edged sword.

What’s Next?

The White House has yet to make a final decision, but the stakes are high.

• Trump’s press secretary insists “no decision has been made at this time.”

• Refugee advocates are urging the administration to reconsider, highlighting the moral and humanitarian consequences.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
US Targets Iran’s Economy

The US is ramping up pressure against Iran, aiming to collapse its economy by shutting down its oil industry.

Economic Impact

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out the aggressive plan on March 6, 2025, during a speech in New York. Bessent didn’t mince words about the economic fallout.

• He warned Iranians to “get all [their] money out of the rial now.”

• Oil prices reacted, with West Texas Intermediate closing at $66.37 per barrel and Brent at $69.46.

Maximum Pressure Campaign

The Trump administration is going all-in on its “maximum pressure” strategy.

• The goal? Slash Iran’s oil exports from 1.5 million barrels per day to almost nothing.

• Sanctions are designed to hit Iran’s oil sector and drone manufacturing hard.

• The US also plans to cut off Tehran’s access to the global financial system.

• There are also a B-52 bomber in the region, carrying enough firepower to level Tehran multiple times over.

Political Context

This isn’t the first time Trump has turned up the pressure on Iran.

• On February 4, 2025, he reimposed sanctions through a presidential memorandum.

• Two days later, the Treasury Department targeted an international network shipping Iranian oil to China.

• Trump has expressed a preference for a “Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement” but hasn’t ruled out harsher measures.

🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA
Fighter Jet Misfire

An accident during a South Korean military drill left 29 people injured when fighter jets mistakenly dropped bombs on a civilian area.

What Happened?

On March 6, 2025, two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight 500-pound Mk82 bombs on Pocheon, a town 25 miles northeast of Seoul.

• The bombs fell outside the designated training range due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates.

• The blasts caused significant damage to homes and buildings, shaking the entire area.

The Human Toll

The incident injured 15 civilians and 14 soldiers, with nine people hospitalized.

• Two individuals are in serious condition.

• Many others are dealing with ear damage, migraines, and anxiety caused by the explosions.

Military Response

The South Korean military has suspended live-fire exercises until they figure out what went wrong.

• Officials insist this won’t affect major joint drills with the US starting on March 10.

• Activists and residents are demanding an end to these drills, questioning their purpose and safety.

Local Outrage

Residents of Pocheon are understandably furious.

• At a rally near the defense ministry in Seoul, one resident, Lee Myoung-won, asked, “Who are these drills really protecting?”

• This incident has sparked a debate about the risks of military exercises near civilian areas.

Pocheon is close enough to North Korea to make a strong show of US-Korean military power, but it’s also near civilian areas. So the question is, which is more important?

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
More Tariff Pause

The stock market has been all over the place lately, supposedly rattled by Trump’s tariff announcements.

Commerce Secretary Lutnick insists the market isn’t a driving force, but… is that really the case?

Because now, Trump has just hit pause on some tariffs aimed at Canada and Mexico—at least until April 2.

Stock Market

Relatively speaking, it's not too far from the all-time high, but given how the market has generally been on an upward trend, this recent sharp drop might feel like a "crash" to many die-hard bullish investors.

• Indexes usually move just a few basis points a day, but lately, they've been shifting 1-2% daily.

• Yesterday, QQQ, which tracks the Nasdaq-100, dropped 2.75%.

Now, just imagine if we actually do crash. 😬

Temporary Relief for Neighbors

Trump announced a temporary exemption for Canadian and Mexican goods under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement trade agreement (USMCA).

• The pause lasts until April 2, 2025.

• About 50% of Mexican imports and 38% of Canadian imports qualify for this exemption.

• Goods outside the USMCA deal are still subject to hefty tariffs.

Canada and Mexico React

Leaders from both countries had plenty to say about the tariff chaos.

• Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum thanked Trump for the exemption and emphasized ongoing cooperation on border security.

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for the removal of all tariffs, while standing firm on Canada’s retaliatory measures.

The Bigger Picture

This “tariff drama” is part of Trump’s broader push for reciprocal tariffs on nations taxing US goods. So does this mean this is just the beginning?

• China remains excluded from these exemptions, with tensions still high.

• Critics argue the tariff uncertainty hasn’t secured any major policy wins.

So, what’s next? When April 2 rolls around, will the stock market crash to the bottom of the Earth?