The Center for Multicultural Engagement (CME) supports students through activities, events, conferences, and workshops valuing multicultural, international, and diverse cultures and communities. We aim to educate, create awareness, and provide resources for students and our community surrounding issues prevalent in our world today.
A prevalent issue for CSUCI students is providing education, support, and resources for undocumented student DREAMers and allies during these times of uncertainty. The following is an article by Noemi Becerra, a CSUCI Psychology/Sociology double major, about the challenges of obtaining her U.S. citizenship and what it means to be American.
Student Spotlight: Noemi Becerra
What It Means to Be an American Citizen
Interview by Jasmine Lopez
In October 1996, at just two months old, Noemi Alvarez, in the care of her mother, moved to the United States from Mexico. Her mother, at 29 years old, was already an established school teacher with a Master’s degree when she decided to make the journey to be closer to her siblings. Her stepfather, who came into her life at two years old, moved to the U.S. for better professional opportunities.
On October 17, 2017, after years of waiting, Noemi Alvarez finally became a U.S. citizen. Her mother and stepfather became citizens earlier that same year.
Noemi wanted to stress the difficulty in becoming a citizen: “People shove it in your face, saying, ‘Become a citizen!’ But it takes a long time and is very expensive,” Noemi said. It took her and her family between 11 and 15 years to complete the citizenship process, but it was not for a lack of effort.
To Noemi, being an American citizen is being part of something diverse with people from different countries, cultures, and languages. Now that she is a citizen, she feels “part of the mosaic” that makes up the U.S.
Before she was a citizen, Noemi did not feel that her American identity would change, apart from having the right to vote, once she became a citizen. However, now that she is a citizen, she feels more politically empowered, and is ready to become an activist on issues that matter to her. Though she narrowly missed voting in the 2016 presidential election, something that she really wanted to do, she will be ready to vote at her first opportunity.
Her note to DREAMers: Stay strong and remain in solidarity. Never forget who you are and where you come from. You are not alone. Remain strong through adversity and do not lose yourself in fear. Love, be kind, and work hard.
Noemi Alvarez is a double major in Psychology and Sociology at CSUCI. After graduation in spring 2019 she plans to earn a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and Social Work.
Jasmine Lopez is a proud Latina living in Los Angeles. She is a senior at CSUCI double majoring in Chicana/o Studies and Psychology. She hopes to earn a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and work with the Latinx community
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