Janitor Junot gains citizenship 

After living in the U.S. for seven years with a green card, San Marin janitor Junot Lonjuin became a U.S. citizen on Apr. 10. 

Lonjuin grew up in Haiti and moved with his family to Miami, Florida in 2017, then to California later that same year. Lonjuin has been working at San Marin ever since. 

Principal Jennifer Larson appreciates Lonjuin’s leadership and care for the school.  “He is an incredible leader and role model for his peers,” Larson said. “He communicates really well and he goes out of his way to make sure that our school is safe and clean.”

San Marin staff celebrated him with a surprise party on Apr. 15.  “We decorated the whole staff room in American flags and congratulations signs,” Larson said. “We had a cake and his framed picture with his certificate.”

Lonjuin and his sister started learning English on their own with the help of media.  “After my parents decided to start the immigration process, my sister and I started studying English by listening to music and watching movies; anything we could find,” Lonjuin said.

Lonjuin started the citizenship process in October 2023. The first step is submitting an application, which alone costs $760, along with fingerprinting, which cost him $95.

Lonjuin had an easier and shorter process than most because he has a clean record, speaks English, hasn’t been divorced, and doesn’t have any physical or mental disabilities. He urges prospective citizens to keep a clean record and be honest about everything throughout the process.

“To become an American, you have to be 100 percent perfect, you can’t make any mistakes. If you have any, make sure you tell them immediately and have proof,” Lonjuin said. 

Months after submitting his application, Lonjuin went to San Francisco for an interview with United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS), followed by the naturalization exam. The exam has two parts: a civics test, which asks about the U.S. government system, and an English reading and writing test. Lonjuin passed the exam after preparing for it by watching YouTube videos and reading books about it. 

Lonjuin encourages parents to become citizens if they can  afford it, especially if their children aren’t citizens either.

“If you [are a parent] and can take the citizenship step for you and your kids, it would be great for their future, especially for certain jobs,” Lonjuin said.

Lonjuin is looking forward to registering to vote and getting his passport, but more importantly, living freely. “It wasn’t for the vote or money; I wanted to be free like a real American,” Lonjuin said. “Now, I see things differently. I was like a bird in a cage, and now I’m free. ”