“It’s an exhausting journey but don’t give up. Keep following your dreams.”
Javier Sanchez, Oxnard, CA
Javier Sanchez is a man with ambition and drive who strives to better himself, not only looking for better opportunities but also taking chances to guarantee those opportunities, including working towards his citizenship.
Living in the United States as an immigrant, Javier started working as a farm worker in 1983. For 12 years, he toiled out in the fields, working hard to care for his family.
One day, he realized that he couldn’t go through the years working out in the field, performing backbreaking work.
“I started thinking I needed to change my life when I started feeling the years catching up to me,” he said. “I thought to myself, my life needs to change, I can’t keep working out in the fields until the day I can’t. That is why I decided to go back to school.”
On January 2, 1996, Javier signed up for classes at a trade school to become an electrician. He took night classes, training for six months. It was at that time when he began wondering how he could gain his citizenship.
“I talked to the school’s citizenship coordinator, and she said I still had another year of training, but that after completing my certification, I can take English classes,” he said. “After my training, I was coming up to my 5th year with my green card, so I started taking English classes and ultimately applied for my citizenship.”
After gaining his citizenship, Javier continued his education, gaining his GED and taking classes to expand his mind and opportunities.
Today, Javier continues to take college classes to expand his mind and he currently volunteers at the UFW Foundation, helping others with the same opportunities he’s taken throughout his life.
“It’s an exhausting journey but don’t give up,” he said, encouraging others looking to become citizens. “Keep following your dreams. I have spent countless tiring hours in the fields, in school, and thank God I keep going and keep learning and studying. I am retired at 64 years old and I’m working on my degree in History and Spanish. Remember, no matter where you are in your life, Si Se Puede.”
For Javier, obtaining citizenship meant having the freedom to pursue new opportunities. The UFW Foundation supports other farm workers in taking that next step if eligible.
We offer legal screenings to help farm workers and immigrants in rural areas find out if they qualify for immigration relief. Our team also provides help with naturalization applications, DACA renewals, family-based petitions, and removal defense.
Learn more about our low-cost immigration legal services in California here.
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Farm workers work hard to put food on our tables and feed communities across the country. They deserve fair wages that allow them to support their families and build a secure future.
"Citizenship gives me peace of mind and allows me to contribute fully to the country I now call home."
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