While Tom has long been interested in law and justice, it was his work at NCICC that inspired his interest in immigration law. He began volunteering in October of 2017, and his time spent at the office and at citizenship tutoring opened his eyes to the immigration issues that members of his community experience. This exposure led him to pursue becoming an Accredited Representative, a goal which he reached September of 2018. He now assists with legal services at NCICC, and is a pre-law student pursuing a B.A. in political science.

Tom attributes the success of NCICC to the community standing behind it. Partnerships with volunteers, and with Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, allow NCICC to provide each client with the support they need. With roots in the community, Tom and other staff members are able to gain the trust of the client, which Tom calls half the battle of each case. From there, clients are provided with support and resources to make sure that the complex citizenship process is not overwhelming. And the support doesn’t end with legal assistance.

“What sets NCICC apart is that [alumni] are in the library helping the next people that want to be citizens,” says Tom. “Clients are not just clients. They are a part of our agency as well.”

Tom is grateful to be a part of this community, and to have a role to play in navigating the pathway to citizenship. Some of his most rewarding experiences at NCICC have been witnessing clients “come in and be Americans after they didn’t think that was a possibility for them.” We are very grateful to Tom for helping to make citizenship a possibility for so many immigrants!

Thank you, Tom!