Jessica Mejía Ramírez immigrated to the United States in 2012 from Colombia after a family tragedy. Mejía, 37, established a life in Texas with her husband, a U.S. citizen. The couple has a son, and she hopes she can share the same U.S. citizenship with them after all these years. This country is already hers, she says, since she has lived in America for nearly 11 years.
Baytown resident Jessica Mejía Ramírez never imagined living in the U.S., but after her 22-year-old brother was murdered in a shooting, she and her family felt they were in danger. Despite her initial hesitation, she built a new life in Texas. Mejía found comfort and stability in her new surroundings, embracing the opportunities and challenges that came with starting over in a foreign land.
The path to citizenship isn’t cheap. Mejía became a legal resident in 2019 and could have started the naturalization process after three years due to her marriage to a U.S. citizen, but the cost made her hesitate. When the Department of Homeland Security proposed an increase in application fees earlier this year, she decided to act. The proposed changes would increase the application fee to $760, including biometric services, such as fingerprinting and background checks.
Faced with the urgency of potentially higher fees, Mejía applied for a loan with One Percent for America, a nonprofit sponsored by BlueHub Capital that works to remove financial barriers to citizenship. She was immediately approved and submitted her application for U.S. citizenship. Mejía expressed profound gratitude for the assistance provided by One Percent for America, noting that the loan made the seemingly insurmountable fees manageable.
Now, Mejía is eagerly awaiting the date for her naturalization interview and looks forward to finally becoming a U.S. citizen. Reflecting on her journey, Mejía said, “In this country, when you want something, just go for it and do it,” expressing her determination and the opportunities she believes the U.S. offers. She envisions a future where she can fully participate in the civic life of her adopted country, sharing the same rights and responsibilities as her husband and son.
Mejía’s story is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of the American dream. Her journey highlights the challenges many immigrants face on the path to citizenship, including the financial hurdles that can delay or deter their progress. Through determination and with the support of organizations like One Percent for America, Mejía is on the verge of achieving her long-held dream of becoming a U.S. citizen, ready to contribute even more to the country she now calls home.