Ana Nunez of Round Lake Heights arrived in the United States from Mexico 32 years ago, became a legal resident and, on Dec. 11, 2025, took her oath to become a U.S. citizen. Shortly after she became an American, she said she registered to vote.
“I feel more comfortable, and I need to vote for a better process,” she said. “I feel better because this is an important opportunity in my life, becoming a citizen.”
Nunez was one of 19 new U.S. citizens honored at a naturalization recognition ceremony sponsored by the Mano a Mano Family Resource Center on Saturday in Grayslake, celebrating their efforts and encouraging them to vote.
Filling approximately two-thirds of the 150-seat auditorium at the University Center in Grayslake, honoring the new citizens were family members, Mano a Mano leaders, teachers, elected officials and students working toward citizenship through Mano a Mano.
Joanna Jaimes, Mano a Mano’s program manager, said the organization coached 55 people through the citizenship process since July 1. Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, 115 people reached the goal of citizenship.
“It was really impactful day,” Jaimes said. “The word of the day was ‘inspirational.’ It was amazing to see the look on their face being acknowledged, and very well-deserved recognition from all of us there.”
Matilde Vela and her husband, Jose Vargas Mendez, came to the U.S. from Colombia in 2008. They also became citizens late last year. Both quickly registered to vote. Mendez said that other family members had already taken the oath, and it was time for them to do the same.
“This feels amazing,” Mendez said through an interpreter. “It’s important we can vote and have a say. We want to join the rest of our family and be citizens.
“We’re voting to have a say for families who aren’t citizens yet,” Vela said through an interpreter.
Dulce Ortiz, Mano a Mano’s executive director and a Waukegan Township trustee, said after the event, it was important to have students currently enrolled in the organization’s citizenship classes to get inspiration from the graduates.
“It was extremely important on many levels to celebrate new U.S. citizens and empower them by reminding them how important voting is, but also to inspire students currently in the process not to give up,” Ortiz said.
Among those congratulating the new citizens were the son of a Lithuanian immigrant and the daughter of a woman who came to the U.S. from Thailand — U.S. Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Springfield, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates.
“One of your children may be a United States Senator,” Duckworth said to the group. “That’s the story of this country. That’s the beauty of this country. That the impossible can happen to any one of us.”
Duckworth told the group how she embodies the diversity of the American dream. Her parents met while her father was stationed overseas as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, making her an American by birth. His family has been here for more than 300 years.
“His family fought in the American Revolution,” Duckworth said. “Diversity makes us smarter, as it widens our perspectives. It makes us sharper, as it shatters our assumptions. And, it makes us stronger, as it deepens our bonds.”
Both Duckworth and Durbin urged the new citizens who have not yet registered to vote to do so to help change some of the policies that are unfriendly to immigrants, whether they are here legally or not.
“There is a climate of fear right now,” Durbin said. “It’s sad, disgusting and it has to change. You will decide if it’s going to change. If you register to vote, you will have a say.”
Dave Bates, a teacher who helps immigrants learn about U.S. history and government for Mano a Mano, told the group how impressed he was with their effort to learn about the country so they could pass a written test containing 100 questions.
“You are an inspiration to us,” Bates said. “We are so, so proud of you, and you should be proud of yourselves. I urge you to vote. This election coming up is the most important of my life, or maybe of our entire history.”
