Hand in Hand honors new U.S. citizens during Constitution Day

LEAVENWORTH — Hand in Hand Immigration Services honored individuals who recently became U.S. citizens at Neu Flessenow Cellars on Sept. 17, the nation’s designated Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

“It's a day to recognize and celebrate American citizenship. For many of the families, whether through their own personal experiences or those of family members, it holds a special meaning,” said Hand in Hand Board Member Diana Sotelo.

The sold out event donated 20% percent of the proceeds to Hand in Hand Immigration Services, helping to support application and renewal fees, as well as transportation and consultation costs for individuals seeking citizenship.

“Supporting this agency is really important so that more people can get the help that they need to become a U.S. citizen,” said owner Laura Brudders-Torres.

The celebration was accompanied by Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison, who shared remarks on the importance of citizenship, the values in the Constitution and Oath of Allegiance, and the impact new citizens make in the county.

“With the sociopolitical climate that we live in, a lot of our communities are fearful of law enforcement at the moment. Having the sheriff speak is a grounding moment and an introduction of an environment of safety,” Sotelo said.

One of the honored individuals was Jose Emilio Romero Salcedo, who first came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1998.

“I decided that I want to have a better life. I feel like Mexico, I was not safe for many reasons…I felt like maybe here, I can find my peace, and I can find that maybe I can belong here,” said Romero.

Romero built a life in the Wenatchee Valley, but after 26 years without the ability to visit his family without jeopardizing his status, he decided to go through the citizenship process with Hand in Hand Immigration Services.

“Without them, I would have never done it. I would have never passed,” said Romero.

Hand in Hand Immigration Services provides federally accredited guidance to legal residents navigating through the 10-step program to become citizens, from eligibility screening to taking the oath.

The day of his interview, Romero said Hand in Hand Founder and Legal Director Norma Gallegos helped him prepare for every detail, including how to sit, how to stand, and how to wait for the official’s cues — and he was successful.

“That day I was so happy,” said Romero.

After obtaining his citizenship, Romero decided to give back. He became a volunteer with Hand in Hand, helping others prepare for the test.

“And I see some people here that became citizens. So I feel happy. One of the ladies, she waved at me, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, she was my student,’” he said.

While the evening was a celebration of accomplishments, it also served the purpose of increasing awareness and support for the organization's services.

“There’s more work to be done,” said Gallegos.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s statistics office reported 170,000 Washington permanent residents/green card holders were eligible to become U.S. Citizens as of 2025. However, the citizenship process has been more challenging over the past year, according to Hand in Hand Executive Director Dr. Faviola Barbosa.

“We have 130 people that are waiting. We have many people that want to become new citizens, but the process is a little bit slower,” said Barbosa.

According to Barbosa, the personnel reductions in the USCIS Yakima Field Office has dramatically slowed the process by reducing the number of interviews completed per day. However, she’s hopeful that a recent hiring spree will increase that capacity.

Moreover, recent changes to the process have been an adjustment for the organization and individual applicants. For instance, the agency increased the number of test potential questions from 100 to 128 last October.

The executive director also expressed concerns about potential fee increases and waiver eliminations. In June, USCIS proposed increasing the naturalization fee from $760 to $1,330 for paper applications and $710 to $1,280 for online filings. It also proposed eliminating fee waivers and reduced-fee options.

“So we’re trying to help people go through the process and submit their applications as soon as possible,” said Barbosa.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media