Living the dream: Rockford man's journey to U.S. citizenship comes to an end
Getting a driver's license, landing your first job, buying a car and eventually a home are rites of passage that many in the United States take for granted.
Those milestones take on a different meaning and are much more difficult to achieve if you are not born a U.S. citizen, even if America has been your home since you can remember.
That was the plight of Jose Galarza, 35, of Rockford. His path to U.S. citizenship was long and tedious but finally ended Monday when he participated a naturalization ceremony at the Rockford Public Library's Nordlof Center.
"I've been looking forward to this moment," Galarza said. "It means a lot to be here with my family."
Galarza was among 78 immigrants from 33 different countries who recited after U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Schneider the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and then the Pledge of Allegiance as their final steps to becoming U.S. citizens.
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Accompanied by his wife, Haley, and two daughters, Luisa, 5, and Ignacia, 6 months, and several other family members, Galarza said he did not reach this latest milestone alone.
"It was very difficult," he said. "Haley really guided me through a lot of it. She was the anchor and support that I needed. And when my daughter was born, it just gave me an extra push to not give up."
For most of his life, Galarza has lived as a "dreamer," an undocumented American who came to Rockford from Mexico with his parents when he was 2 years old.
Through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, the East High School graduate was able to get a driver’s license and a work permit that allowed him to have his own business before taking a job at Rock Valley College.
Galarza recently posted a video on Facebook of himself at home opening a long-awaited letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration informing him of his selection to participate in a naturalization ceremony.
"I made the video because there were so many people who were behind us the whole time, and they've been following our story," he said. "And I felt like it was a moment that I wanted to share with everybody."
Over a seven-year period, strangers became supporters and friends after Galarza created a blog called, "Love, Hope and Borders," to document his journey to citizenship.
One of those supporters is Mayor Tom McNamara.
After congratulating Galarza at the ceremony, the mayor went on tell the new citizens about the important role they play in our nation's greatness.
"It's great because of all of you," he said. "Many of our leaders right here in Rockford were born in other countries, but they are contributing right now to Rockford's turn around."
"I would just urge, as has been mentioned before, get involve in your community. Join boards, join commerce groups, volunteer to help others and please get out and vote and make sure that your voice heard."
Chris Green is a general assignment reporter for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and on Twitter @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford man among 78 people to become U.S. citizens
