On January 12, Phillips Law Group’s own Ilce Mondragon became a United States citizen, an amazing accomplishment that was celebrated by the entire team at our firm along with her family and friends. Ilce’s citizenship ceremony was the final step of a long journey for the Community Outreach Coordinator that started a decade ago.
Ilce explained that her citizenship journey began 10 years ago when she decided to move to the United States with her kids. “I got my Green Card in seven months and after that, I needed to wait five years to apply for citizenship,” she said. “I was really scared about it, but I really wanted my kids to get the citizenship before they were 18.”
“They are almost 18,” she added. “They grew up here, they speak perfect English, they learned everything here in this amazing country so that’s what made me apply.”
Ilce then waited five months for her interview and she was soon approved to schedule her citizenship oath ceremony, which ultimately took place on January 12 at the Phoenix, Arizona courthouse.
“My test was on December 12th and that is a really special date to me,” she revealed. “I knew I was going to make it. I studied a lot and they approved me really fast!”
Ilce was far from alone when she went to her official citizenship ceremony. “My kids, my mom, my boyfriend, and my amazing friends Bridget, Luis, Sharon, and Angelica (all coworkers at Phillips Law Group) were there and I felt awesome,” she said.
“When I moved here 10 years ago, I just asked God to bring good people into my life, because I was leaving all my friends and family behind. I got lucky and am so blessed to be surrounded by amazing people in this beautiful, amazing country.”
Sharon Mews, an Office Support Assistant on the Phillips Law team, said of Ilce’s citizenship journey and her ceremony, “Ilce has been an inspiration to many people, myself especially. She has consistently given of herself to the community, her family, her friends, and her workplace…She works harder than anyone I know to make her dreams come true.”
“It was a great honor when she invited me to join her for this ceremony,” Sharon added. “She was glowing, so excited to take this next step.”
Sharon explained that at the ceremony, the new citizens were asked if anyone wanted to share their story, and how Ilce conveyed what it meant for her and her family to come to the U.S. “Her story was very inspirational and touching,” she said.
Olivia Lemorrocco, the Client Experience Coordinator at Phillips Law Group, agreed that Ilce’s journey is “an inspiration.”
“Obtaining American citizenship is more than a process; it’s a testament to Ilce’s unwavering spirit, inspiring us with her courage, determination, and her pursuit of the American dream,” she said.
Everyone at Phillips Law Group is incredibly proud of Ilce and so honored to have her as a member of our team. We are thrilled that she has accomplished her extraordinary goal of becoming an American citizen and are so excited to see what ambition she pursues next!
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