Dozens of nonprofits across region guide eligible Houstonians as they navigate the naturalization process
Mariana Sanchez and Jannette Diep know what it means to take the journey to U.S. citizenship. It’s why the two have made it their life’s work to help others do the same.
Their organizations, Bonding Against Adversity and BPSOS, are among dozens of nonprofits across our region that are guiding eligible Houstonians as they navigate and prepare for naturalization. “We cross every single barrier: transportation, money, lack of English, legal issues, anything that you might think about,” said Sanchez.
In the video above, learn Sanchez’s and Diep’s stories and meet Miguel Peñate, one of the 2,200 Houstonians who took the oath of citizenship on a single day at NRG Arena.
Peñate is just one of roughly 360,000 Houston residents who are eligible to take the oath of citizenship, which unlocks higher rates of home ownership, increased earning power, freedom of travel, and the ability to vote in elections. Like many others, Peñate’s moment at NRG represents the culmination of grass-roots efforts to educate and empower residents who already contribute to the region’s economy and cultural vibrancy.