When Wahab left Nigeria in 2016, he carried little more than hope for a safer future.
Born and raised in Lagos, he had built a life as a husband, father, and community activist. But growing insecurity and threats to his safety made remaining in his home country increasingly difficult. Believing the United States offered an opportunity to live without fear, he made the difficult decision to leave his family behind and seek protection in America.
What followed was not the fresh start he had imagined.
Upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Wahab was detained and placed into immigration custody. He spent more than a year in detention while trying to navigate a legal system he knew little about and searching for a path forward.
“It was horrible,” Wahab recalled. “I don’t believe I’m going to meet myself in that situation when I get to the United States.”
Separated from his loved ones and uncertain about what the future would hold, Wahab relied on faith and determination to persevere. With the help of a pro bono legal team from Seton Hall University, a Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, he was eventually granted asylum in 2017, opening the door to a new life in America.
Building a Life One Step at a Time
When Wahab was released from detention, he faced a challenge familiar to many newly arrived refugees and asylees: starting over from scratch.
“I didn’t have nothing,” he said. “I didn’t have nobody here.”
Through Catholic Charities of New York’s Immigrant & Refugee Services division, Wahab received assistance securing work authorization, finding employment, and navigating life in a new country. He was referred to Catholic Charities of New York shortly after receiving asylum and credits the organization with helping him take many of his first steps toward stability.
For newcomers arriving in New York, navigating immigration paperwork, finding employment, securing housing, and learning a new language can feel overwhelming.
Catholic Charities of New York provides support every step of the way — offering immigration legal services, employment assistance, language training, citizenship classes, access to benefits, and more. Last year alone, Catholic Charities of New York served more than 108,000 newcomers, helping people like Wahab not only rebuild their lives, but create new opportunities for their families.
Wahab entered the workforce quickly, taking jobs in cleaning services and food service before eventually building a career in technology. Throughout it all, he continued pursuing his education.
“I have passion for education,” Wahab said. “I know if I have my qualification, I can get a better job.”
Balancing work and school was not easy. There were days when exhaustion followed him home. But he refused to give up.
Over time, he earned an associate degree from Bronx Community College. Then, this spring, nearly a decade after arriving in the United States, he reached another milestone: graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems.
“I know it’s not easy. It’s rough,” he said. “But thank God. With focus and determination, God helped me.”
His accomplishments represent years spent building a foundation for the family he hoped would one day join him.
The Long Wait for Reunion
For many refugees and asylees, safety is only the first step. Family reunification can take years. For Wahab, it took nearly a decade.
After receiving asylum, Wahab immediately began the process of petitioning for his children to come to the United States. With support from Catholic Charities of New York, the process involved paperwork, interviews, background checks, and years of waiting. Still, he never stopped preparing for the day they would arrive. At one point, Wahab rented a three-bedroom apartment and maintained it by himself while waiting for his children to receive permission to travel.
“I was renting the apartment that I paid for it by myself. Nobody lived with me,” he said. “I just keep it by myself because I want my children. I want my family.”
The sacrifice was significant. But for Wahab, it was an investment in his family’s future. “I didn’t want them to go through the stress that I went through,” he said. “I wanted to try my best to make life easier for them.”
Then, after years of waiting, the news finally came. His three children were granted visas and arrived in New York in February 2026. “I was very excited,” he said. “Because it’s what I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
After spending so much time returning home to an empty apartment, he could finally begin building a life alongside his children.
Today, they are settling into New York while pursuing educational opportunities and waiting for work authorization. Catholic Charities of New York continues to assist the family with employment services, school resources, and other support as they establish themselves in their new home.
A Full-Circle Moment at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Just weeks after his children arrived in New York, Wahab found himself attending another milestone event: the installation Mass of Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
For Wahab, the experience was deeply meaningful.
Nearly ten years earlier, he had arrived in the United States alone, uncertain of what the future would hold. Along the way, Catholic institutions became part of his journey — from the Seton Hall University legal clinic that helped him pursue asylum to Catholic Charities of New York, which assisted him with employment, education, and family reunification.
Now he was standing inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, witnessing a historic moment in the life of the Church. “It was a very good memory, which I will not be able to forget in my life,” Wahab said. “I was very excited.”
While visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Wahab also saw the recently installed murals depicting the Church’s long tradition of welcoming immigrants and refugees. The images resonated with him in a personal way.
For Wahab, the experience served as a reminder that his story is part of a larger story — one of welcome, accompaniment, and hope.
A Father’s Hope on World Refugee Day
As Father’s Day approaches and communities around the world observe World Refugee Day, Wahab’s story is a reminder that behind every refugee journey is a father, a mother, a son, or a daughter.
For Wahab, fatherhood remains his greatest motivation. When asked what he hopes for his children in America, his answer was simple.
“I want them to do good, focus on their study,” he said. “They should stay focused, and they should be determined.”
He hopes they will learn from his example. “They should look at what I did,” he said. “When I got to this country, I didn’t have nothing. I didn’t have nobody here, but I needed to struggle and work hard.”
Wahab remains grateful for the people that helped him along the way. Reflecting on the support he received over the years, Wahab shared a simple image to describe what Catholic Charities of New York has meant to him.
“Catholic Charities is like a tree that many people come to under the shade,” he said. “They are a big tree and big branches that help a lot of people.”
Today, that shade has helped Wahab build a life he once only dreamed of — a college graduate, a U.S. citizen, and, most importantly, a father reunited with his children. But Wahab is still waiting for one more reunion. His wife remains in Nigeria as immigration paperwork continues to move through the system. Even as that process unfolds, he remains hopeful.
And after years of waiting, that dream is finally becoming reality.
