Had my final hearing about the validity of my US Citizenship

[gopiscrap]

Last summer my wife and I were going to work in a refugee camp in Greece. Just as we were leaving, I was informed that I was on the no-fly list and also informed that my citizenship was being challanged.

I made my ctizenship via testing when I was 15 years old.

I had to go to three hearings on the citizenship challenge and two on the no fly status. Yesterday I won both and can breathe again.

Mainly so that I don't have to worry about the citienship thing, but also so that I can travel freely again. I know the admin did this because I have been a thorn in republican sides for many years now. XSpecially with the past 10 years on immigration issues. This was pure pay back but I am relieved! And blest.

Just think if I didn't have free representation how much it would cost. Just think if I wasn't accent free and perhaps a person of color, this could have turned out totally different. In fact I know I wouldn't have been able to fight from the comfort of my home, I would have been one of the ones in a detention center, that myself and others have been protesting in front of. While this is good news for me, there are many others where the situation is very bleak...please remember them in your good wishes and more so fight for them!!! Thank you!!!!

[vlyons]

1. Congratulations

I hope you make getting an American passport a top priority.

[gopiscrap]

3. I already have one. I have had a US passport since 1972

at my final hearing they had the score of my citizenship test, the port of entry, airline and date of the 31 times I have entered the US from another continent and also my two green cards I had. I was so lucky to have counsel

[hlthe2b]

2. I waiver between my happiness for you and my total, crushing anger that this is happening at all.

I don't even recognize my country any more. The erosion of our ideals may have been decades in the making, but the acceleration since 2016 has been unbelievable and devastating.

[Gothmog]

4. Congratulations

[underpants]

5. Congrats

[rso]

6. Citizenship

On what grounds did they question your naturalization ?

[lucca18]

7. Wonderful news!

It is just unbelievable what you had to go through, and what many people are still going through.
We are better than this.

[LittleGirl]

8. Hubby got his citzenship in 2012

and I always worry during this awful administration that they will question us whenever we return to the states.
Did you ever get to go to Greece? I guess not if you were on the no-fly list. ugh.
Glad it worked out for you.

[gopiscrap]

18. No I never got there. We lost about 2000 dollars in tickets and pre paid hotel

[gopiscrap]

19. PS how coool that you are in Switzerland

[GoneOffShore]

9. Congratulations.

And we're awaiting our French residency so we can apply for citizenship and then get rid of our American passports.

[people]

10. How to support people in detention centers

Other than voting, what do you think is the best way to support the people being held in detention centers? Would appreciate your ideas on this.

[gopiscrap]

17. Make sure you make a lot of noise out front, so they know there are people who care...if you can

help financialy make donations to groups like the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, help relatives on the outside, right to government officals and most of all: VOTE!!!

[SunSeeker]

11. On what basis were they questioning your citizenship?

If you're had a passport since 1972, that means you've been a citizen for 46 years! And you were naturalized.
So they can't claim you got in using a fake Texas midwife birth certificate like they challeged some citizenships. How could they possibly challenge your citizenship?

[gopiscrap]

16. they challenged the validity of the citizenship test...I know they were fucking with me,

but it still was a huge hassle and they achieved their goal of stopping us from working in a refugee camp last summer. Plus I lost about 2000 dollars because of non refundable hotels and tickets

[SunSeeker]

21. WTF? How could they challenge the validity of a gov't administered test?

How could it possibly be invalid? Plus, if you became a citizen as a minor, it couldn't have been much of a test. I thought minors weren't even required to take a US knowledge test.

[gopiscrap]

22. at age 14 they can take the test on their own my mom being

being the mom that she was wanted me to take it on my own so I would learn about the US....the trump admin doesn't folllow the rules and yes, the test was the same as the adults btw I got the highest score of anyone testing that day

[SunSeeker]

23. You got the highest score? So what was their problem with that?

Honestly, I really am trying to figure out their angle. I know a few naturalized citizens, two of whom were naturalized in their early teens decades ago. I'd like to give them a heads up.

[gopiscrap]

24. they wanted to fuck with me...pay back for all the protesting

and riotin g I have done, in addition to stopping me from going to Greece and working in a refugee camp

[FakeNoose]

12. Awesome news & congratulations

I have many friends who were born in Germany that have emigrated to the US. Most of them came here in the 1950's and 60's when things were still bad in Germany. Many of my German friends have become naturalized citizens over the years, some through marriage and others have taken the route that you took.

However a couple of my older friends are still holding green cards after all these years. It's hard to believe since they don't plan to return to Germany other than for a short visit, but for one reason or another they just never bothered. Considering the obstacles to citizenship that are in place now, I don't think these 80-year-old ladies will ever be naturalized. Their children and grandkids are all born here and of course they are US citizens.

I believe that previous generations of immigrants felt secure in maintaining their status as green-card holders, but now it's not so sure for the newer immigrants. The concept of fairness doesn't even come into play. I'm happy that you have achieved your goal of US citizenship. It's a thing to celebrate!

[ROB-ROX]

13. THERE ARE EVIL REPUBLICANS

I am so happy you have been taken care of and you are a CITIZEN. This country needs more people like you. I am a second generation USA. I do not worry since I look like a regular white man. I do my best to challenge the conservatives and I and my cousins did graduate from college and we have good jobs. I remind my 3 children they are "Mexicans" even if they sun burn & have blue eyes.......

[Meowmee]

14. That is great you won!

Why was your citizenship challnged after 42 years? On what basis? Sounds like a lawsuit to me. I became a citizen at 24 after being here on-a green card since I was 6. I am a dual of the US and Canada now.

[gopiscrap]

15. I was being fucked with because of my political work

in 1988 we had a huge (what they call riot) when then Vice President George Bush came to town, He had to be esc orted out of the place 17 minutes early, it got that wild. I also have been protesting and demonstarting all over the place. In 2008 I was on my way to the Repub convention in Minneapolis and was put on the no-fly by his sons administration. This time it was because of all the proest, agitating and work I have done on behalf of refugees and immigrants. trumps administration said that they were going to chalenge some naturalizations. Which meant they were going to go after 'trouble makers" like me.

[Meowmee]

25. Wow that is terrible

Can you sue them after the fact? Things like that need to be challenged.

[The Mouth]

20. I'm trying to get my Irish citizenship

I know paternal grandparents came over here from there, but all records seem to be gone (pre 1906 San Francisco).