82-Year-Old Japanese-Speaking Senior Overcomes Unexpected Hurdle to Achieve US Citizenship

San Francisco, CA – An 82-year-old Japanese-speaking senior who fled to Hawaii for a better life will soon be taking the oath of citizenship after receiving a notice for an oath ceremony. The client, originally from Okinawa, Japan, had faced poverty and confusion during WWII and had struggled to make a life for herself in the US.

She became a legal permanent resident in October 1976, but it wasn’t until 2022 that she was encouraged by a social worker from Kimochi to apply for naturalization. With the assistance of Junko Kenmotsu, a DOJ Accredited Representative from the Elder/YAD team, she assisted the elderly client and she went through the interview process with the client at USCIS, where they discovered a potential issue with the timing of her divorce decree.

Despite the unexpected revelation, we were surprised by an expression of generosity towards the client from USCIS, allowing our client to continue on the path towards citizenship. The team was relieved and grateful for the outcome, especially considering the potential consequences if the client had received a denial notice and worse a deportation notice.

“I talked to our client this morning. She was appreciative of our work and she was very happy,” said Junko Kenmotsu, Elder/YAD team member who assisted our client. “USCIS expressed an act of generosity. I don’t know what to call it but I am happy too.”

The Elder/YAD with the help of the Immigration team is proud to have helped this client achieve her dream of becoming a US citizen and will continue to support others in their journey towards naturalization.

About the APILO’s Elder and Disability Rights Project:

APILO’s Elder and Disability Rights Project provides legal services in a variety of areas to assist elders and individuals with disabilities to receive public benefits and live a life free from abuse.

The Elder Team works to both to prevent abuse towards elders and people with disabilities and to assist survivors of abuse. We work closely with senior centers, churches, and senior meal sites to keep our services accessible.

With a team of exemplary attorneys and dedicated staff, the team provides a wide range of legal services, including naturalization assistance, other immigration cases, Elder Abuse, Estate planning, eviction defense, conservatorship, guardianship, and restraining orders to name a few.

If you want to learn more about what our team does, please feel free to reach out to us.

–The Elder and Disability Rights Project