La Esperanza honors new U.S. citizens at inaugural celebration

Daniel Cabañas Durán, a Cuban immigrant, doesn’t take for granted the privileges that come with being a U.S. citizen.

At a ceremony that honored the journey of 36 new citizens from La Esperanza’s immigration program, he said, “I’m able to do things I was never going to be able to do in my own country, like enjoy freedom of speech, vote and decide my own future, and provide for my family.” Cabañas Durán, who lives in Lewes, works as a software engineer.

More than 250 people, including U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and Rep. Ruth Briggs-King, R-Georgetown, gathered at La Esperanza’s inaugural citizenship celebration at Delaware Technical Community College Owens Campus in Georgetown.

“The process to become a citizen is not an easy one,” Carper said. “It takes years of waiting, paperwork, studying and money, but you did it! You never gave up, and the day is finally here. Congratulations!”

Hall-Long said, “It takes strength to depart from the only homes you’ve ever known — the lives, the loved ones — for a new start in the United States. Many escaped violence; others sought a better future. As you embarked on and completed this journey, you continued the historic legacy of so many immigrants that have come before you. It’s a legacy rooted in the founding of this great country and seeded throughout every major milestone of its history.”

Delaware Tech Vice President Bobbi Barends, Owens Campus director, led a panel discussion with four of the citizens. Among them was Tidal Health physician Dr. Sandra Palavecino Acuña of Seaford. Political instability forced her and her family to leave Venezuela and settle in Chile. Later, she came to the United States.

“At times, the citizenship process felt like a part-time job,” said Palavecino Acuña. She also had to repeat her medical residency in the United States to fulfill medical board requirements.

Darvin Mérida Juárez left his homeland of Guatemala at age 15. He said he enjoyed his childhood there but reached a point at which he wanted more. Today, he owns a plumbing company in Georgetown.

Lizbeth Reyes Serrano, originally from Mexico, found a new calling in her new land. Now a Wilmington resident, she aspires to help other women tackle immigration paperwork.

“Being a citizen of the United States has given me a new purpose: to be a better person,” said Reyes Serrano.

La Esperanza helps an estimated 600 people each year on their citizenship or residency journeys in multiple ways, including permissions to work, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals renewals, temporary protected status and permanent residency applications.

Located on Race Street in Georgetown, the nonprofit was born out of the compassion of Sister Ascensión Banegas, Sister Rosa Álvarez and Sister María Mairlot, who came to Georgetown in the 1990s to help immigrants who were arriving in Delaware to work in the poultry plants. The nuns, originally from Spain, witnessed the difficulties of immigrants in a new land, and offered them hope and inspiration. Sister María, the sole surviving founder, sent a video message from her home in Washington, D.C.

La Esperanza Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Fuqua said it had been a long time since La Esperanza had been able to come together with friends, supporters and the community for a celebration. “This is the best reason — to celebrate and recognize you — new citizens and your families,” said Fuqua. “We’re excited about the future and invite you to join with us as we serve the community and partner together to create a thriving Latino community where hope is fulfilled.”