On December 19, 2021, the Armenian Bar Association’s NY/NJ/CT Chapter held an Immigration Law Day program at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in NYC. The program aimed to assist Armenians who have immigration issues to speak with Armenian American attorneys specializing in U.S. immigration laws.
From various parts of the world, the Armenians have immigrated to the United States since 1600s. Welcoming the Armenians who passed through the treacherous journeys to find themselves in the United States, assisting them in the difficult transition periods, and guiding them to establish themselves, are critical for the preservation of the Armenian Nation and development of influential Armenian Diaspora. Guided with those principles, the Armenian Bar Association organized the program.
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, through the doors of which thousands of Armenian immigrants had walked to connect to their faith and culture, opened its doors on December 19, 2021 to the program welcoming the new generation of Armenian immigrants.
Significant number of Armenians joined the program, while following the COVID19 guidelines, to meet and speak with Armenian attorneys of the Armenian Bar Association. The Armenian Bar Association through its various programs has been sharing the knowledge and connections to assist Armenians in the Diaspora to establish themselves and succeed. The Immigration Law Day was a program for the Armenian community.
The program was blessed by reverend Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, the Pastor of the Church, and welcoming remarks were delivered by Armen Morian, member of the Armenian Bar Association and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Church, and Souren A. Israelyan, the Vice Chair of Armenian Bar Association’s NY/NJ/CT Chapter.
Two prominent Armenian attorneys specializing in U.S. Immigration Law, Irina Hovhannisyan of Law Office of Hovhannisyan and Rodriguez, PLLC, and Melsida Asatrian of Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC, spoke on the immigration issues that affect new immigrants and the Armenian Community. Both Hovhannisyan and Asatrian spoke in clear and eloquent Armenian. Thereafter, they made themselves available for one-on-one private discussions with the attendees. The attorneys cover the whole spectrum of immigration issues and have extensive experience in handling immigration and immigration-related matters.
Three other members of Armenian Bar Association, Lucy Magardichian, Talar Hashasian, and Astrid Avetisian, who also practice in the field of U.S. immigration laws and maintain offices in New York City, could not attend in person, but have agreed to make themselves available to assist Armenians who seek legal advice on immigration issues.
The delicious Armenian foods for the program were prepared by Hi Food Café. Two genius Armenian pianists, Diana Gabrielyan and Ruzan Asatryan, mesmerized the attendees by masterful performance of the works of Arno Babajanian and Aram Khachturian. The program continued well past the hour in the atmosphere of true Armenian friendship and fellowship.
The Immigration Law Day of NY/NJ/CT Chapter of Armenian Bar Association was a great success and those in attendance expressed the need for future such events.