Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Catholic Charities recently collaborated to host a free immigration information phone bank. This initiative aimed to assist New Yorkers in accessing legal resources and referrals. The event was organized in partnership with the New York State Office for New Americans and Telemundo, seeking volunteers who could offer confidential and multilingual guidance on immigration issues.
Professor Jennifer Baum, Director of the Child Advocacy Clinic at St. John’s Law School, informed her students about this volunteer opportunity. Nicole Castillo Guiracocha, a student from the class of 2025, promptly volunteered. She attended a training session to understand phone bank operations and her role as a volunteer. On the day of the event, she managed calls remotely via an app on her laptop.
“I began each call with a brief prepared introduction in Spanish, emphasizing confidentiality and thanking the caller for reaching out,” Castillo Guiracocha stated. “Many callers sought basic guidance on documents they need to have readily available in case they are apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Others had complex legal questions that I couldn’t address directly. But even in those cases, I reviewed the callers’ rights to ensure they were fully informed. I also referred every caller to a legal nonprofit in their area.”
According to Catholic Charities, within just over two hours, Castillo Guiracocha, Professor Baum, and other volunteers assisted 338 people in understanding their rights if they encounter ICE at home or elsewhere. They addressed concerns about ICE presence in schools and helped callers practice invoking their right to remain silent while discussing family safety plans.
Castillo Guiracocha utilized skills from her experience at the Child Advocacy Clinic during these calls. “Some of our Clinic clients were at heightened risk of needing a standby guardian,” she explained. “We helped clients complete the forms needed to make that designation.” During the phone bank event, she provided information about standby guardianship as part of broader discussions on family planning.
Reflecting on her experience, Castillo Guiracocha shared: “The most rewarding part of volunteering for the phone bank was the gratitude expressed by every caller.” She emphasized how this reinforced her commitment to public interest work after graduating from St. John’s Law.
Professor Baum appreciated supporting students like Castillo Guiracocha through this initiative: “It was a privilege to support our amazing St. John’s Law students in giving back to our New York City community,” she said.
St. John’s Law community members including Jennifer Acevedo '27 and Ermina Sedy ’27 also contributed as volunteers despite their busy schedules as first-year law students.
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