Client Services Coordinator Aracely Mota has worked at San Joaquin College of Law’s “New American Legal Clinic” (NALC) for almost three years and says she has noticed a change in the clientele over the past year or so.
“It’s shocking to see so many people who have been in this country, holding Green Cards, for forty or fifty years. Then suddenly this year, they show up here wanting to be citizens.” She says it makes her wonder what motivates the sudden move when they have been eligible for decades.
Two of the cases stick in her mind. The first was a woman who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. “She was going through a hard time. Her hair had fallen out and she wasn’t sure if her English would be good enough to pass,” Aracely says. “She wasn’t sure how long she had, but it was her dream to become a citizen before she died.” Amazingly, the woman survived, became a citizen, and returned to NALC, just to show them how grateful and happy she was.
The second case involved a woman who had survived cancer twice, only to have it return for a third time after she had submitted her citizenship paperwork through NALC. Despite her deteriorating condition, she too had the dream of becoming a citizen if it was the last thing she did. “She was buying ribbons to wear during the citizenship ceremony, buying tiny American flags.” Aracely says she realized her dream just one month before the cancer finally won.
NALC has represented nearly 4,000 clients since its inception, with more than a quarter of them becoming citizens so far. Aracely says many are coming from a hurtful place. Sometimes it’s financial, sometimes medical, and sometimes they are the victims of violence.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, or if you would like to offer pro bono work to the clinic, please call NALC at (559)326-1553.