Houston mother becomes a U.S. citizen after two decades as groups help residents move through long process

A Houston mother who spent more than 20 years as a permanent resident said fear, money and uncertainty kept her from applying for citizenship.

She said she did not know where to go, how to study or how to afford the process. Her experience reflects what many long-term residents face across Harris County.

Inside the classrooms where she studied, rows of notebooks and practice sheets sat stacked near the whiteboard. Reyna Ortiz described the years she hesitated to apply and the steps that finally helped her push forward.

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Reyna moved to Houston from Mexico City after her parents and brothers had already settled here. She said she needed English lessons but could not afford private programs. She searched for a place that