Mr. Zarosinski was a client. He came to us for immigration help. We met in 2016 –21 years after he entered the U.S. and still, despite relentless efforts, he did not have a green card. What I know about Mr. Zarosinski is the background I gathered to help him to obtain his legal status. His legal status – a "U" visa (as a crime victim who cooperated with law enforcement)-- was awarded on September 17, 2021, four months after he died.
Mr Zarosinski was born on January 8, 1956, in Szczecin, Poland. His father was Wojcied Zarosinski. His mother was Zenobir Krystyne Witkowske.
His former wife (Ewa Giedroyi) urged him on to the US in 1995 to live with her parents hoping the move would provide greater opportunity. He became homeless after two weeks.
When I met Mr. Zarosinski, he was still homeless. On weekends, he volunteered as an advocate for persons with housing problems. He was also writing a book about science.
Back in Poland, Mr Zarosinski graduated from the Technical University of Gdansk in 1975. He later supervised construction projects that built pipelines, ship parts, and homes. Beginning in 1979, he worked as a supervisor at the Häring company in Gdansk, And in 1986 started his own construction company in Poland, Recon, with a branch in Germany.
The company was successful in exports and home construction. Due to economic reforms, however, his company became unprofitable and, in 1990, he was forced to move the company from Germany back to Poland.
He eventually lost the companies he had worked so hard to build.
Around 1994, his wife convinced him to travel to the United States for a fresh start.
He became homeless almost immediately.
Mr. Zarosinski later recommitted to his studies. He obtained his real estate license and saved enough money to leave the Bellevue Men’s shelter. He rented a room and supported himself for several years. Due to his immigration status, however, Mr. Zarosinski was unable to sustain his license, his only source of income. He fell into homelessness again.
He was assaulted in one of the shelters. That assault led to his attacker’s arrest and Mr. Zarosinski’s status as a crime victim—his only chance to obtain a green card.
The attack changed Mr. Zarosinski’s life in many ways. He lost teeth, needed oral surgery, and found it difficult to speak. He lacked the funds for oral surgery. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a heart attack.
Mr. Zarosinski was a highly intelligent man. He never gave up the prospect of legal status in this country. He had many plans--including completion of his book, dreams to start his own real estate company, and to reunite with his family.
TJ Mills
