“I am a firm believer that the strongest foundation of this wonderful country is its democracy,” said Madero.
Shippensburg University criminal justice professors Carlos Rojas and Arelys Madero were recently sworn in as United States citizens. Both Rojas and Madero are originally from Venezuela and completed their naturalization process this fall. The pathway to citizenship required many years of perseverance and dedication, and now, as citizens, they can fully participate in civic duties within their country.
Rojas, who coordinates the Master of Criminal Justice program, shared that he attended his Oath Ceremony on November 4, 2025, in Philadelphia, a moment that will forever change him. “Placing your hand in your heart while listening to the National Anthem, reciting the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance, receiving your certificate of naturalization and listening to the welcoming video message from the President of the United States is something that had a tremendous impact on me,” he said. “In those brief moments, I was able to reflect on my entire journey along with the efforts and sacrifices I made along the way.”
Madero, who completed her Oath Ceremony a few weeks earlier on October 7, 2025, also shared the sense of pride and gratitude that she felt. “I had mixed emotions on the day of my interview; I was both nervous and excited,” she said. “By the end of the interview, particularly when the officer said that I had passed and they would be sending me information on the oath ceremony, I was elated. I remember walking out of his office wanting to jump in excitement.”
For both Rojas and Madero, the naturalization process required a tremendous amount of preparation, commitment, reflection — and a great deal of uncertainty. Rojas described the experience as nerve-wracking yet rewarding at the same time. He also noted how professional and compassionate the USCIS officers who conducted his interview were. “After leaving the USCIS office, I felt relieved and happy to share the great news with my family and close friends,” Rojas said.
While they were thrilled to finally be U.S. citizens, Rojas and Madero both acknowledged the challenges they faced along the way. “The most challenging part of my naturalization process was not related to the naturalization itself, but rather the different steps leading to obtaining permanent residency,” Rojas said. He arrived in the States eighteen years ago, when Venezuela began facing considerable challenges and political turmoil. “The chances of obtaining permanent residency were slim.”
Madero also emphasized how grueling the process was. “The process required a lot of preparation, documentation, learning and financial costs on my part,” she shared. “It was cognitively demanding and emotionally exhausting at times.”
Despite the challenges that Rojas and Madero faced, their shared determination stemmed from the strong belief in democracy and hope for a better future. “My wife and I were motivated to come to America to escape political persecution and build a promising future for our family,” Rojas shared. “Since we arrived in the U.S., we both obtained master’s and doctoral degrees, had two daughters, joined our Catholic parish, bought a house and volunteered in our community. We are now fully embracing the country that embraced us!”
Madero said her decision to pursue citizenship was rooted in her desire to fully participate in the democratic process. “As an H1-B visa holder first and later a Green Card holder, I could not do things that may be ordinary for others, such as signing petitions, calling state representatives or senators, serving on a jury and voting. I have greatly longed for the opportunity to engage civically.”
Now, as citizens, both educators shared how their journeys have provided them with a great deal of perspective on immigration and criminal justice. “As an immigrant and now citizen, I have been able to develop a well-informed and unbiased approach to understanding the role of the criminal justice system on immigration,” Rojas said. This upcoming spring, during his sabbatical leave, Rojas will be writing a book examining the pathways of immigrants in the juvenile justice system.
“Becoming a citizen has made me a more competent educator,” Madero expressed. “I use examples from my own immigration journey, along with what I have learned in my research during the process, to explain certain concepts in the classroom.”
For students and other educators following similar paths, both Madero and Rojas emphasized the importance of properly preparing the path to citizenship. “Take the reins of your case and be persistent, resilient, patient, humble and perseverant, Rojas advised. Madero added, “If you cannot hire an attorney and must file independently, read as much as you can … It may seem overwhelming at first, but in the end, you will feel good that you persevered.”
As both professors look to the future, they plan to celebrate their oath anniversaries every year – honoring their paths to citizenship and contributions to their country.
