Guilermina’s Journey to Safety, Stability, and a New Beginning
When Guillermina first came to Catholic Charities of Omaha’s Immigration Legal Services Program (CC-ILS), she carried the weight of a trauma no parent should ever face. In 2020, her daughter survived a sexual assault — Guillermina was devastated and found herself as an indirect victim eligible for a U-Visa.
By 2023, Guillermina reached a critical milestone. U‑Visa holders must apply for lawful permanent residency before their status expires, or they risk losing the protections they fought so hard to secure. Unsure of the next steps and determined to safeguard her family’s future, she turned to Catholic Charities for guidance.
As we’ve done for a century, Catholic Charities walked alongside Guillermina, empowering human dignity at every turn. Together, we prepared and filed her adjustment of status application at the end of 2023 – this was a pivotal step toward long‑term stability.
In 2025 – her long, arduous wait was over – Guillermina received the news that her Lawful Permanent Residency was approved. With her green card in hand, she now has permanent legal status in the United States and a clear pathway to citizenship within five years.