When Happiness Is Too Much to Ask For
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Felicia R. Lee
Source: New York Times
Date: 7/16/2000
Legal Aid Society of New York (LAS) attorney Stephen Myers represents Ms. Adamolekun, a Nigerian immigrant who came to the United States several years ago in order to join her Nigerian husband, a permanent resident of the United States. When she arrived, her husband renounced their Nigerian vows and remarried. Adamolekun initially found work as a home health aid, but was later diagnosed with brain cancer and became unable to work. She was denied Medicaid coverage due to her immigration status, and was unable to afford necessary medications. LAS established that Adamolekun was Permanently Residing Under Color of Law, thereby entitling her to receive emergency Medicaid and a small rent subsidy. Emergency Medicaid pays only a small portion of costs the mandatory cancer medications, and Adamolekun now faces eviction from her apartment because she has used her rent subsidy to cover the remainder. Myers, who will also represent Adamolekun in housing court next week, says, "Ms. Adamolekun’s story highlights a problem experiences by untold numbers of people with uncertain immigration status. . . . There are large numbers of people unprotected by the safety net." Felicia R. Lee, When Happiness Is Too Much to Ask For, N.Y.Times, July 16, 2000, at Sec. 14, 1.