Immigration Clinic Match Campaign
From March 1 to April 30, 2025, every dollar donated to the LUM Immigration Clinic will be matched up to a specified amount. Local businesses, individuals and groups will donate the “match money” prior to the campaign. Please join this exciting campaign and support the important work of the Immigration Clinic.
IC Match Campaign – VIP Reception – Thursday, May 15
SPECIAL EVENT! Every donor who gives $500 or more will be invited to attend the IC Match Campaign Reception at Lafayette Brewing Company (2nd floor event space), 622 Main St, Lafayette, IN 47901. Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm.
At last year’s reception Christian Gallo, LUM Immigration Clinic director, and Margaret Hass, LUM accredited representative, shared powerful stories that underscored the profound impact of the work of the LUM Immigration Clinic. Christian highlighted the Clinic’s mission to instill hope in those who have faced unimaginable challenges to reach Indiana, recounting the touching story of a Cuban family who sought solace in our services. Margaret shared a deeply moving account of a mother’s relentless pursuit to reunite with her sons from Iran, showcasing the Clinic’s unwavering commitment to reuniting families and providing solace amidst adversity.
This reception will provide dinner and drinks along with a chance to mingle with other LUM Immigration Clinic supporters and learn more about what the LUM Immigration Clinic is doing. Consider giving more to attend. To donate NOW, click HERE.
Five Reasons to Give
Looking for a reason to support the LUM Immigration Clinic? Here are five.
- LUM provides assistance at very low or no cost, helping our immigrant neighbors navigate the complex and daunting US Immigration system. Legal help for many issues can run into the thousands of dollars.
- LUM assists people who are legally entitled to an immigration benefit, but do not have the financial means to claim it.
- The LUM Immigration Clinic has helped hundreds of local people gain citizenship, obtain green cards, and get asylum and temporary protected status. They’ve helped people from all over the world to become Hoosiers.
- LUM has trained volunteers who help stretch every dollar into many more hours of certified legal assistance.
- Every dollar donated to the LUM Immigration Clinic will be matched by our sponsors
Hear an Immigration Clinic Client Story
Finding Safety in America: A Ukrainian Family’s Journey with LUM (Cole Crider)
In the wake of unprecedented turmoil and conflict, families like Nataliaa and Serhii’s family from Ukraine have found solace and support through the compassionate efforts of organizations like Lafayette Urban Ministry. Their journey, marked by uncertainty and danger, underscores the critical role that the LUM Immigration Clinic plays in providing a lifeline for immigrants seeking refuge and stability in the United States.
Arriving in America on December 1, 2022, Nataliaa, Serhii, and their children—Karina, Matvii, and Andrii—were thrust into a new reality, fleeing the turmoil of their homeland under the United for Ukraine Program with Riverside Church (Lafayette, IN) as their sponsor. Nataliaa, Serhii, and their children, attend church events and gatherings, serving as pillars of support and connection in their new home. Nataliaa also leads a bible group for Ukrainian girls in the West Lafayette, IN area.
Their story echoes the plight of many Ukrainian families torn between the safety of a new land and the heart-wrenching worry for loved ones left behind. Nataliaa, once a kindergarten teacher, and Serhii, a furniture designer, faced harrowing circumstances back home, with several military targets in their town and daily life overshadowed by the constant threat of violence. The family recalls a gas station near their home being bombed, serving as a stark reminder of the peril they escaped.
“Nobody is safe in Ukraine because nobody knows when rockets will come down,” says Nataliaa.
Despite the physical safety found in West Lafayette, IN, emotional scars persist as they grapple with concerns for family and friends still in Ukraine. The United States visa process brought its own challenges, but the LUM Immigration Clinic emerged as a beacon of hope, offering vital assistance in navigating the complexities of this system.
Extending their stay in the United States by six months, LUM eased the burden of uncertainty, allowing the family the flexibility to travel to loved ones in Ukraine without fear of jeopardizing their immigration status. The streamlined process provided by LUM spared Nataliaa and Serhii from the daunting task of deciphering intricate legal procedures, affording them precious time to nurture their family bonds while continuing to work.
Karina, speaking on behalf of her family, expresses profound gratitude for the unwavering support they received from LUM.
“We’re really thankful for the people who have helped us,” Karina affirms. “The work that LUM does for immigrants is important.”
As the world continues to witness the plight of displaced families seeking refuge, organizations like Lafayette Urban Ministry stand as examples of compassion and hope. Through their commitment to serving immigrant communities, the LUM Immigration Clinic exemplifies the transformative impact of empathy and assistance in rebuilding shattered lives and nurturing newfound dreams of a brighter tomorrow.
The LUM Immigration Clinic By the Numbers
In 2024 alone, the LUM Immigration Clinic has provided tens of thousands of dollars worth of no-cost or extremely low-cost legal immigration assistance. The Immigration Clinic served 355 households. They helped:
- 12 individuals work towards or achieve U.S. citizenship,
- 29 people obtain work authorizations,
- 21 people obtain, renew, or adjust their green cards,
- 10 people renew their DACA status,
- 9 people apply for Temporary Protected Status,
- 6 people obtain permission to travel abroad for emergencies without disrupting their green card applications,
- 3 people apply for Asylum,
- 2 people apply for visas as a victim of crime or domestic violence, AND
- Provided consultations and legal advice to 240 people.
Several of these clients came in with cases that had been pending for more than a year due to bad professional advice from immigration law firms. The Immigration Clinic was able to restore their cases and got them approved or back to processing.
With your support, the LUM Immigration Clinic will be able to continue helping local immigrants, just like her, gain their citizenship and pursue the American dream.
EVENT SPONSORS – If you would like to be an event sponsor call or email us (765-423-2691 | immigration@lumserve.org). Click HERE to see the 2024 Event Sponsors of the LUM Immigration Clinic Match.
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