Jeff knows that there is nothing more American than moving to seek a better life for oneself and one’s family. He believes that no matter who we are or where we come from, we all want to live and work in vibrant, caring communities.
So Jeff’s team was eager to help Galina Babitskaya and her family when they reached out with an urgent ask for help: to fulfill Galina’s dying wish of becoming a U.S. citizen. The Lake Oswego resident, born in Russia, is being treated for serious cancer, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for seven months failed to respond to her citizenship application. When Jeff’s team heard about this delay, they jumped into action, and helped field her application through a number of obstacles to expedite the process. Two months after contacting Jeff, she was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.
“We left with the certificate of citizenship in our hands!” Galina’s daughter wrote to Jeff’s team. “My mom is very happy! You made her dream come true.”
Jeff celebrates the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, and knows that our communities are made richer by Oregonians who come from all over the world. On behalf of all Oregonians, Jeff congratulates Galina on becoming a naturalized citizen, and wishes her and her family comfort through this extremely challenging time.