Spring 2025 Newsletter
Ukrainian Refugee Finds New Home in Brooklyn
After Ukraine was invaded, Stan fled his home in Donbas region, which is now occupied by the Russian military. Thankfully, he was able to make it safely to Poland, and then come to the United States through the United for Ukraine (U4U) parole program, a special program for Ukrainians fleeing the war. He settled in New York City, staying with a friend before finally finding his own place in Brooklyn. Between working for a catering company, looking for an apartment, and trying to complete complicated immigration paperwork on his own, Stan missed the deadline to renew his parolee status before it expired. Another agency referred him to Catholic Migration Services for help.
One of our DOJ Accredited Representatives immediately got to work completing his application to renew his parole, including a letter explaining the hardships that Stan was experiencing that prevented him from submitting the application before the deadline. Within two months of contacting Catholic Migration Services, Stan’s parole renewal was approved. This status allows him to work legally and offers protection from deportation. When asked about his goals for the future, Stan said, “I want to pursue my education. I like America. I want to be a ‘model citizen’ for this country. I appreciate what this country has given me. This country helped me, and I want to make a positive contribution to this country.”
As of January 28, 2025, the United for Ukraine (U4U) parole program has been paused by the Trump Administration and USCIS is not accepting any new applications.
Catholic Migration Services In the News
Tenant Advocates Call on Gov. Hochul and Queens Electeds to Support Eviction Protections
Defending a Family Against Eviction in Oakland Gardens
Victoria was working hard to provide for her two teenagers as a single parent in Queens. She had lived with her children, one of whom has disabilities, in their Oakland Gardens home since 2018. Recently, she returned to school to study to become a dental hygienist/assistant, which would put the family on a firmer financial footing because despite working as a school bus attendant, she struggled to make ends meet. She fell behind in her rent payments. As a result, her landlord brought an eviction case against the family last year for non-payment of rent.
Victoria was determined to fight to keep her family in their home and she turned to Catholic Migration Services for help. Our Housing Unit represented her in Housing Court and was able to connect her with Family Homelessness & Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS), a New York City program which paid the landlord $58,000 in arrears going back to 2022, and will cover the full rent going forward. Now that she and her children can remain in their home, Victoria can focus her energy on parenting, working, and finishing school so she can begin her new career.
Victoria is extremely grateful for her Catholic Migration Services attorney, stating, “I wish that there could be more lawyers like [Samantha]; without [her] it wouldn’t be possible to make this happen. Since Samantha Lyons was advocating for me, I feel confident knowing that she has the knowledge of law, good communication, professional ethics and honesty.”
New York Landscapers Work 80+ Hour Weeks, Demand Justice
Vanessa, a 51-year-old grandmother originally from Ecuador, worked for a landscaping company maintaining gardens in the Hamptons. She started work at 7 a.m. every day and worked 12 to 15 hours a day, sometimes not finishing until 10 p.m. She had to work seven days a week, only getting every other Sunday off to rest and spend time with her family. She was paid a flat hourly wage and received no additional overtime or “spread of hours” pay, an extra hour of pay for working long shifts, both of which are legally required in New York State. Vanessa kept detailed records of her work hours and pay because she had been the victim of wage theft with a previous employer. She and two coworkers decided to demand the full pay that their employers owed them and sought legal assistance from Catholic Migration Services.
With representation from our Employment team, they demanded what they were owed – and won. After lengthy negotiations with their employer, our three clients secured a settlement totaling $28,421.77, fully compensating them for their owed wages. This victory is a testament to the power of organized and informed workers and a reminder that wage theft is beatable.
After winning her case, Vanessa said, “We thank God for finally receiving the money that we earned by working so hard. We are grateful to Aaron and the entire team at Catholic Migration Services, who helped us so much. With this money, I can help family in Ecuador who had been in a bus accident.”
However, there are still people working at the company who are afraid to come forward with their own claims. Vanessa said, “I want other workers to not be afraid to recoup their rightful wages that they earned with their sweat and hard work. Your immigration status doesn’t matter; the overtime law applies to everyone working in New York.”
Celebrating the Impact of Our Partners
On February 6, 2025, Catholic Migration Services honored law firms Virginia & Ambinder, LLP and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, as well as tenant leaders Lauren Springer and Regina Shanley, for their service to the community. It was a lovely evening of celebration and inspiration at the Malt House in Lower Manhattan.
Virginia & Ambinder, one of NYC’s leading employee rights law firms, has partnered with us to represent low-wage immigrant workers. including home care workers who work 24-hour shifts. Many of these aides are only paid for 13 of these hours, despite working through the night to attend to bedridden patients who need constant care. Thanks to Virginia & Ambinder’s tremendous work on behalf of over 150 home health workers, after seven years of litigation, the case was recently settled, and now Catholic Migration Services’ clients and their coworkers will receive $2.94 million. The fight for home care workers continues, with our community partners National Mobilization Against Sweatshops, Flushing Workers’ Center, and Chinese Workers and Staff Association leading the charge to end the 24-hour workday in New York State.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, an AmLaw 100 law firm, has partnered with CMS’ Immigration Unit to host and staff legal clinics to assist clients submit immigration applications. Their pro bono service supported the work of our Pro Se Plus Project, which is a collaboration of legal services providers and community-based organizations that serves recently arrived immigrants. The demand for these services is extremely high, and individuals face tight deadlines and dire consequences for missed filings. Additionally, Davis Wright Tremaine has had a great impact on our naturalization program, which serves Legal Permanent Residents applying for citizenship. These services are critically important to the immigrant community, particularly those with cognitive disabilities who face challenges in passing the required civics test, or physical disabilities that make it difficult to attend the oath ceremony.
Regina Shanley was honored for her work as a tenant leader with Catholic Migration Services for the last eight years, providing support to her neighbors and informing them of their rights. She has helped a neighbor who was being harassed by the landlord, letting them know that free legal services are available for low-income tenants experiencing harassment or retaliation from their landlords. She has helped people with SCRIE and DRIE applications, which enable people who are elderly and disabled to remain in their homes by freezing their rents.
Lauren Springer was also honored for her service. Her journey into housing justice began with a personal struggle — facing challenges with her own landlord. Determined to fight back, she became deeply involved in her building’s organizing efforts, transforming her struggle into action. She quickly emerged as a Catholic Migration Services leader, helping to organize community meetings in Queens. Recognizing the urgent need for legal protections, she played a key role in the movement to pass New York City’s groundbreaking Right to Counsel law and continues to push for its expansion statewide.
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