After 19 years of living in the United States, 14 of them as undocumented, Oscar Revolorio celebrated this Thursday that he is finally a citizen of the United States. He was part of . Revolorio, 38 years old, settled in California after emigrating from his native Guatemala. At that time his dreams were to work and help his parents.
“I arrived with a backpack full of dreams and desires because one always comes to this country to improve one’s lifestyle,” he indicated.
He added that, while many immigrants plan to buy a car, a house or have a lot of money and material things, their longed for dream was to be able to have a legal status in the country.
And he confessed that for years he identified with the song of the Mexican group Los Tigres del Norte, called Jaula de Oro, which speaks of an immigrant without legal status who says: this great nation. ”
“ I had 14 years that I did not see my Mom and Dad, ”said Revolorio. “But I think that if you don’t risk, you don’t win.”
Currently, he lives in South Los Angeles with his wife and four children.
Celebrating Refugee Day
Revolorio had the opportunity to celebrate his naturalization with dozens of legal permanent residents, several of them who came to the US as refugees.
The new citizens represented to 14 countries; Armenia, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Iran, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela and Vietnam.
For some, this was a commemorative date since the 20 June is World Refugee Day.
The district director of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Los Angeles, Anna Chau, who is a refugee from Vietnam, welcomed them and administered the oath of allegiance.
Chau began her role as district director from USCIS in Los Angeles in October 2020. In that fiscal year, the USCIS
naturalized about 625,000 people.
World Refugee Day is important to USCIS employees as they play a critical role in resettling these immigrants from around the world.
At the same time, they ensure the integrity of the refugee program and national security.
Message to the immigrant community
Oscar Revolorio said that now as a citizen, his dreams continue and he hopes to get his own home painting business with a contractor’s license and travel Europe and Asia with his wife.
He indicated that all immigrants who When they come to the United States they can achieve great things, with or without papers, if they have the vision of prospering while respecting the laws of the community where they live.
“Many arrive with the mentality of not behaving well and get in trouble driving taken or something like that and that’s where we see people deported, ”said Revolorio. “It is not easy but when one behaves well, it is possible.”
He added that he will always have Guatemala in his heart since it is his native country and he is willing to visit it whenever have a chance.
However, he feels a great affection for the United States since it is the country that has offered him job opportunities and the formation of a family. “I have everything here,” said the new US citizen.