ST. LOUIS -- At the age of 52, Jose Cervantes-Rocha became a United States citizen. It is something the Wappapello man has worked toward since he was 18.
Cervantes took the Oath of Allegiance -- the final step of the naturalization process -- Friday, along with more than 50 other individuals from 24 countries. His wife and young daughter were in attendance at the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis.
"I came to the United States for a better life," said Cervantes, who has lived in Southeast Missouri for the past 28 years. "There are so many better opportunities in the United States and the ability to have a good life."
Cervantes has lived in the United States since the age of 14, living with cousins already in the country. At the age of 18, he applied for and received a work visa, starting the process of joining the workforce and gaining his permanent residency.
"It was difficult to find a job when I first started," Cervantes said. "It's not that there wasn't jobs available, because there were many jobs, but the fact that I was from Mexico and I couldn't speak English well. I also only had a bike to get from place to place."
With not attending school in the United States, and jumping right into the workforce once he entered the United States, Cervantes didn't have the resources to learn English.
"Learning English was a mountain for me," Cervantes said. "I learned English from watching TV in the evenings and listening to people talk."
After spending his first five years in Houston, Texas, he moved to Illinois until he gained his permanent residency. After gaining permanent residency in 1990, he moved to Missouri, where he met his wife, Jana, in 2003. They married in 2005 and had their daughter, Maygan, in 2008.
Cervantes could have lived in the United States for the rest of his life as a permanent resident, but he wanted to be an active citizen of the United States.
"Becoming a citizen wasn't necessary, but I wanted to be involved and have my opinion heard," Cervantes said. "I have an opinion too, and I wanted to be able to express that opinion through voting."
Cervantes explained that it can be very difficult for immigrants to live in the United States, due to prejudice and the heavy emphasis put on illegal immigration by the major news media outlets.
"I had it easy in the fact that many people treated me nicely, but so many others are treated poorly because of the idea the media puts in people's heads about immigrants," Cervantes said. "All humans, all over the world, should be treated equally. Color of one's skin should not make someone treat another differently; we all bleed red and we all were created by God. Everyone should respect each other as they would want to be respected."
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, around 750,000 immigrants gain their citizenship to the United States every year. Cervantes believes the number of immigrants obtaining their citizenship is low because of the extensive process and the amount of money needed to become a citizen.
"I believe the system to become a citizen should be easier for those truly wanting to become a citizen in the United States," Cervantes said. "By the end of the process, one would spend thousands of dollars to become a citizen. Many of the people that come to the United States from Mexico leave everything behind because of the need to get away from the dangerous drug wars and violent drug cartels ruling around their communities. They come to the United States with nothing, in hopes of building a better and safer life."
Cervantes offered encouragement to those who desire citizenship.
"Don't give up on becoming a citizen," Cervantes said. "It may be difficult at first, but it is very possible. Just stay out of trouble and never stop following the dream to be successful. It is well worth it."
After the Oath of Allegiance was recited by the new citizens, they were ushered outside the courtroom to register to vote. Those in attendance left with smiling faces, excited for the next chapter.
Cervantes explained his excitement and relieved the process is finished.
"I have finally reached the top," Cervantes said. "I am glad to now be a citizen of the United States and I am excited to start voting."