By Shane Thomas
Naturalized citizens are among the most enthusiastic voters because they weren’t born with the right to vote in the U.S.
One such voter is Dr. Janet Davis of Omaha, who became a citizen in 2012 after living in the U.S. for 54 years.
Born in a small suburban county outsideof London, Davis moved to the U.S. to attend graduate school in New York City.
She married an American lawyer in 1960 and eventually moved to Omaha with her husband and two daughters.
After her husband passed away in 2010, she began thinking about going through the naturalization process.
“My kids lobbied for me to get my citizenship throughout the process,” Davis said.
Davis noted how extensive the naturalization process is to become a citizen.
“Law enforcement wanted to know everything about me,” Davis said, “where I had traveled, if I had ever been a part of any political or social groups and where I had worked since I came here.
“There was a lot of paperwork,” she said, “though after I gave them everything they needed, the immigration process went relatively smooth and painless.”
Carlos Orozco also went through the U.S. citizenship process. Orozco, 27, immigrated to the United States years earlier.
“My father had been in the United States for 17 years,” Orozco said. “I wanted to come to make a better life and spend time with family.”
Prior to receiving his citizenship, Orozco went through the same extensive process as Davis.
“The process wasn’t very easy,” Orozco said. “Since I got my green card through my parents, I had to wait five years to apply for citizenship. Obviously there was always a fear that with the new administration, things could change.”
Davis and Orosco said they care about many important issues in this midterm election.
“I would like to see more balance, specifically in at least one of the branches in the government,” Davis said. “I am also concerned about the national deficit.”
Orozco also cares about issues such as border control and taxes.
Orozco also said he supports some of President Trump’s policies, but he still believes the president can do better.
“I support some of the things that Trump does, but I think he executes and handles things in an extreme way, which keeps people divided,” Orozco said.
