Citizenship Day: Reflecting on the Road to Safety and Opportunity
Nearly 25 years ago, Ruby made the difficult decision to leave her native Mexico to escape a life of violence and discrimination and pursue protection in the United States. Ruby is just one of many transgender individuals who have had to flee their country of origin to seek refuge on a daily basis in the U.S.
Once in the U.S., Ruby generally felt safe from physical harm, but she continued to live in fear of being deported back to a country that had failed to adequately protect her. In 2015, Ruby finally emerged from the shadows of living undocumented when she was granted asylum. A year later, she gained lawful permanent residence.
Having a green card gave Ruby the confidence to live life authentically and unapologetically. Ruby received the gender-affirming care she desperately needed, but she still grappled with the inevitable repercussions of the trauma she endured as a transgender woman in Mexico.
The trauma of her past had taken a heavy toll on her mental health, making it nearly impossible for her to learn English—a typical requirement of the citizenship application process. During her first appointment at Oasis, Ruby disclosed that she found herself paralyzed with anxiety when she tried to learn English and suffered from intense headaches as a result.
Ruby sought help from her doctor, and Oasis was able to support her with a waiver application. If granted, she would be allowed to take her citizenship exam in Spanish.
On May 2, 2023, Ruby attended her citizenship interview accompanied by Oasis’ Residency & Naturalization Programs Director Ari Jones, along with DOJ Accredited Representative Marisa Lopez and Interpreter Sydney Levy. At this point, all four arrived at the interview facing the looming uncertainty of whether the waiver would be granted. Despite the unpredictability of the situation, Ruby testified well, and ultimately, her waiver was granted!
About two weeks later, after years of challenges, Ruby attended her oath ceremony (the last step in the citizenship application process), and was awarded her citizenship certificate. In the featured photo, Ruby proudly displays her certificate in one hand while waving an American flag in the other.