Immigrants said stirring new anger

By Barbara Hughes
Special to The Catholic Virginian

“Immigration has become a hot button topic and we’re all just watching the news to see what’s going on and how it might affect us,” said Karen Kurilko, Regional Director of the Refugee and Immigration Center in Hampton. During a recent interview, Ms. Kurilko told The Catholic Virginian that following the attack of September 11, she was surprised by the phone calls she received from people calling to ask how they might be of service. “Since then, things have changed. During the past year while visiting parishes in the area, I’ve has been approached by people who are angry about the issue of undocumented immigrants,” she said.

“Many don’t distinguish between refugees who are here legally with full government approval and immigrants who may or may not be documented.” According to Ms. Kurilko, “The strongest confrontations come from people who resent immigrants because they see them as taking resources that they don’t feel they have a right to. And so I try to respond very carefully.”

“Our mission is to serve the neediest of the needy,” explained Susan Smith, Education Coordinator for the center. Under the auspices of the Diocese of Richmond, the Refugee and Immigration Center offers services to both refugees and immigrants. Currently there are 250 refugees being served by the center in Hampton. According to Ms. Kurilko, refugees come from everywhere — Jamaica, Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Russia, Cuba and from all over Africa.

They are referred to the diocese through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and many locate in Hampton or Newport News because of affordable housing and employment opportunities in those cities. The refugees are assigned a case worker who helps assimilate them into society. The initial process is intense and focuses on helping refugees find housing and employment. A volunteer is also assigned to each refugee as a support. “Sometimes the whole family gets involved with a refugee family,” noted Ms. Kurilko. “Volunteers typically work with clients for about six months while others develop long lasting relationships,” she said. “Children learn English faster than adults so we need mentors to work with parents and teens often help children with homework.”

In addition to volunteers, the center can always use donations of furniture and household items that can be given to refugees when they move into their own apartment. Bob Bozidar, immigration counselor on staff, helps refugees to achieve legal status by assisting with work visas, green cards and helping establish permanent residency. “Every case is different,” he pointed out. “The economy and political situation in their home country matters if the petitioner is here illegally. I do everything but represent them in court.” Regarding the status of immigrants, the center has a “don’t ask policy.” The main outreach for immigrants is through classes held in area churches. Classes have open enrollment. “We don’t ask them to register and they may come for one class or stay for the whole semester,” Ms. Smith explained.

She noted that their program reaches a population which would otherwise fall through the cracks. The adult education programs offered through the public schools require registration and attendance at all classes. “This is not always realistic,” said Araceli McCoy, assistant education coordinator, herself an immigrant, whose husband is in the Army. “Many are transients and may be able to attend only one class” she said.

Ms. McCoy posts information about classes in supermarkets, laundromats and in church bulletins. Word of mouth and announcements in churches such as Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport News and St. Rose of Lima and St. Joseph in Hampton where classes are held also reach the at-risk population. Classes are taught by volunteers and, contrary to popular misconception, volunteers need not be bi-lingual. Volunteers are required to attend a four-hour training session and there are usually 4–5 volunteers that teach any given class.

(For more information about how you may help contact the center at (757) 247-3600.)