Every Ukrainian crossing into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry gets a warm welcome and a big hug from a volunteer.
Crossing the red line at the border means that they’re on U.S. soil, but, to those fleeing the sights, sounds and sadness of war, it means a lot more than that.
"Peace, happy," is how Viola Donchecko described her feelings upon crossing into America. She said her home city of Irpin is completely destroyed.
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Through a translator, Viktor Hagov said he felt like he left sadness behind that red line.
"He feels like everything went down, like problem is gone, no more bombing, no more nothing," the translator said.
But Hagov's son is still there.
Artem Danchuk, who is just 16-years-old, said through a translator that he's "glad that's all behind and he's finally here."
Maria Fishov is a Russian American who lives in Encinitas. She said was compelled to come to the border to help after seeing the immense suffering the new arrivals have endured. She described the joyful welcomes as a symbol of hope, saying: "It's about just people welcoming people to a brighter future and I think that’s wonderful."
PedWest has been closed for two years, and it’s still not open to the general public. But Customs and Border Protection expanded operations at the San Ysidro Port of Entry for what they say are humanitarian reasons. Opening PedWest allows more efficient processing. Now, five times the number of Ukrainians can be processed.
That’s good news for the hundreds waiting on the other side, and perfect timing for 13-year-old Lidiia Danchuk. She giggled as she told a translator that she was "happy: It was a very long journey."
Then she added that tomorrow is her birthday. She put her hands in the air and said, "Yay," just like a typical American teenager, but her birthday wish shows the contrast. "She wants her family to be together here. Her father is still back in Ukraine," the translator said.
So, this welcome is bittersweet for Ukrainians. Leaving family, friends and everything you know and love behind for the unknown is never easy.
"I want to go home, when war get to the end, I want to go home," Viola said.
