My dear friends and colleagues,

I'm reaching out regarding my girlfriend, Olga Trehub, who is presently in a situation that I feel can be aptly described as "dire."

As many of you may know, Olga and her 17-year-old daughter, Dilya, came to the U.S. four-plus years ago when war broke out in their native Ukraine. In the nearly two years Olga and I have been together -- and across her time in the U.S. -- she's proven herself not merely a hard worker, strong mother and impactful photographer -- but also a tax-paying refuge who's a model citizen and an asset to her adopted SoCal home. As for Dilya, she's continued to hone her longtime tennis skills and, after earning All-Conference honors as a high school junior this season past, she's angling for a college scholarship.

Per these achievements, below, you'll please see a host of links, which will take you to a pair of newspaper articles done on both Olga and Dilya; and here's a recent TV segment on Dilya's journey, well-captured by NBC-Palm Springs.

And, yet, despite all of Olga and Dilya's efforts and successes in the States, they've been placed in a vice. In brief: Olga and Dilya have been waiting over 15 months (!) for an extension of what the Biden Administration provided to their Temporary Protected Status. Fifteen months -- and all they hear is that their file remains "Pending." In this difficult interim, akin to hundreds of thousands of their countrymen and women, Olga has tried everything in her power to try and stay here legally and to try to continue to work here legally.

As for that "trying," Olga has consulted with a host of noted immigration attorneys in recent months, and while these lawyers don't profess to waive any magic wands, there is a real possibility that one of them can expedite her status, get her case atop the "Pending" pile and acquire for her, specifically, an EB-1A visa.

What I'm asking here, folks, gives me pause as, yeah . . . it's hard to ask, as I trust, if not know, that many if not most of you are approached for philanthropy on a regular basis. But, provided that Olga may simply be forced to return to her war-torn nation in a mere matter of months, I'm left with no other option than to try and help her in any and all ways I can, and to try and keep her and Dilya here -- where they're safe.

The attorneys' fees, including respective forms and filings, run about $14,000.00, two-thirds of which are due as an upfront retainer. This total, of course, represents a hefty sum, and is a tally which we're not necessarily attempting to reach, but which we're aiming to approach.

All of this offered for your consideration, I've started this GoFundMe for Olga and Dilya. Please note that the entirety of these funds will go toward hiring a lawyer for their immigration case.

If you're in a position to contribute, know that Olga, Dilya and I are equally heartened and grateful; and, please note that, because of her aforementioned work ethic, Olga would be enthused to repay you by taking a professional portrait of you, your family, your hound, your home, etc.

I thank you all so very much for taking time to read this, just as I appreciate whatever you may be in a position to bestow.

As always

Be Well,

Judd

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1932192740713333

https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/arts/2026/01/30/palm-springs-events-this-week-include-exhibit-spotlighting-local-women/88414469007/

https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/tennis/bnp/2025/10/27/diliara-trehub-fled-ukraine-amid-war-tennis-is-building-her-a-new-life/86842376007/