QCH Immigration Specialist named New York Nonprofit Front Line Hero

Every year, New York Nonprofit Media recognizes Front Line Heroes from the nonprofit industry who work in the field directly helping clients and making their organizations' goals a reality through hard work and dedication. This year, Queens Community House’s Immigration Specialist Carmen Guiterrez was named a 2017 Front Line Hero.

Gutierrez (pictured above on the right, with Associate Executive Director Mary Abbate on the left) has worked tirelessly with over 700 families/individuals in their quest to gain citizenship or legal residency within the United States (and that’s just in the last six months). She goes above and beyond as she accompanies frail candidates to their hearings, provides community workshops, and volunteers at citizenship clinics. 

With over 15 years at Queens Community House (QCH) and her Board of Immigration Appeals certification, Carmen has helped thousands reach their own version of the American Dream. Her work includes assisting those who were targets of immigration scams get back on track and helping refugees obtain their permanent refugee status. She has also aided students, who have been in the United States since they were toddlers, to continue their education and to stay in the country they’ve known as their home.

“I remember one specific instance where Carmen helped a Colombian woman obtain her permanent residency after her son was murdered,” Associate Executive Director Mary Abbate said. “She showed true courage by going straight to the Immigration Office and asking them to approve the woman’s application so that she could go to the funeral in Colombia and still come back to her family here in the U.S. Carmen has made it her mission to stop deportations, and she is a true advocate for the immigrant community.”

Guiterrez will be recognized at an event by New York Nonprofit Media on April 18 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and she could not be more appreciative of the honor.

“I work with people from all over New York City and even people from Long Island and New Jersey,” she said. “I just try to give them all that I can and let them know that they can be confident in what they are doing.”

For more information about Queens Community House’s Immigrant Services, click HERE.