“I feel such a sense of relief and like this is a new opportunity to follow my dreams.”
“It was important to me to become a citizen because I always wanted to be able to vote and speak out about my political views. But because of my immigration status, I was afraid and unable to do so. I’ve waited 20 years for this day. I feel such a sense of relief and like this is a new opportunity to follow my dreams.” Maricela says.
Growing up in San Francisco, Maricela dreamt of becoming a law enforcement officer, but realized her immigration status prevented her from doing so. In high school, her dreams of joining the army, met a similar fate.
Maricela is excited to finally become a U.S. citizen, with the help of immigration attorneys from the SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative. For her, this means being able to better support her family, travel without fear, and petition relative in the future.