St. Mary's Supports Ukranian Couple

The St. Mary’s-Congregation Sherith Israel Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team (NEAT) has welcomed Kateryna Holub and Alexander Zemliachenko, who arrived in San Francisco from Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May first. Their route to the US was Odyssian is scope, if not duration: Kharkiv to Fethiye, Turkey, to Berlin to Rome to Madrid to Mexico City to Tijuana to San Diego to San Francisco. They entered the United States at the Tijuana/San Diego international checkpoint where they were granted Humanitarian Parolee status. (Photo left to right: Janet Parker, Sherith Israel, Katya Holub, Alex Zemliachenko, Greer Hopkins, St. Mary's)

Alex and Katya each hold Ph.D’s from National Technical University, Kharkiv. Between them, this power tech couple has published 34 professional articles, delivered 50 conference papers, and holds two patents. Together, in 2020 they founded a Ukrainian start-up technology company, Amadeo, which they continue to develop (in the early hours of the morning) here.

These are just the type of people that Silicon Valley companies normally sweep up and nurture. EXCEPT that their legal status of Humanitarian Parolees does not allow for work permits, social security registration, or any of the other necessities to be self-supportive. This is where our NEAT partnership comes in. Our accompaniment team will work with Alex and Katya to obtain the legal status and resources they need to secure work and live independently in dignity for as long as they choose to stay in the United States. In the meantime, we all pray for Ukrainian victory, so this wonderful young couple can return home to contribute to a thriving Ukraine.

How can you help? 1) Do you know a qualified attorney who is willing to donate services to help Katya and Alex successfully manipulate the immigration system? 2) Do you know anyone in any of tech companies who might be interested in acquiring their services and, in doing so, actively engage in resolving the immigration issues? 3) St. Mary’s and Congregation Sherith Israel may need to help underwrite the cost of the couple’s apartment. Please make your tax-deductible contribution online DONATE

and specify that it is to go to Justice Ministry’s Immigration Fund.

Thank you, from the St. Mary’s Accompaniment Team—Anne Williams, Georgene Keeler, Gerson Marcony Bolvito Grijalva, David Crosson, Mari Coates, Nancy Clark, and Greer Hopkins