In 2002, John, a refugee from Sudan, and his family made the journey to Dallas, Texas. Today, we stand with him as he celebrates his newly appointed status as a citizen of the United States.

Congratulations to John, a new citizen of the United States.
Congratulations to John as he celebrates his newly appointed status as a citizen of the United States.
Photo: The IRC

John has been working with the IRC in Dallas since his arrival to the US in 2002 and is on track to meet all of his initial goals, including getting a job to support his family. His path to citizenship was rocky. In the United States, an individual can begin the citizenship application process after being a permanent resident for five years. Clerical errors with the Department of Homeland Security led to issues completing the application and delayed the process, but John persisted and was officially granted US citizenship in June of 2019.

From the beginning, John had expressed interest in working in the security sector. Last summer, he obtained his Level II Non-Commissioned Security Officer certification. He landed a job in private security not long after and has been working since then, providing for himself and his family. The hours may be long, but he loves his job.

Everyone at the IRC in Dallas who has interacted with John has expressed that he is a joy to work with. His patience and consistency have brought him far and he continues to overcome any obstacle he faces.