Juan's Story of Citizenship
Channel: Florida Immigrant Coalition
Date: 2013-05-03

Transcript:
My family brought me to this country when I was very young. For my safety, they sacrificed everything to give me an opportunity at the American Dream. One of the first things they said to me after we landed at the Miami airport was, "You're in the land of competition and opportunity now, so you must work very hard and prove your worth." I've done everything I could to make my family proud. Together, we all dreamed of citizenship and the future legacy of the family. 

Our broken immigration system took many of them away from me, including my sister and my dad. After 14 years, I got my lucky chance at a path to citizenship thanks to my stepmom, and just a few weeks ago, I mailed my naturalization forms with the help of FL New Americans. As I walked in to do my biometric fingerprints yesterday, I felt my entire family present in the pounding of my heart. My grandma passed away before she got to receive her political asylum, but I know she is with me now as I prepare for my exam. 

Citizenship, for me, has everything to do with the dreams of my family and the promises of equality that were denied to them and that I can now seize to honor everything they have taught me. I miss my family very much, but through my pain I know that as a FL New American, I will be able to make great changes in this land I call home every single time I vote and get others to vote. I look forward to the day I will reach the ballot box on behalf of my family, and all those who sacrificed before me so that I could have this opportunity. Find out more at www.FLNewAmericans.org