I never expected to live in Richmond, Virginia. In fact, I never even imagined living in the United States. But after being here since 2017, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. And as June, Immigrant Heritage Month, comes to an end, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be an American — but hope Congress will extend it to others as well.

My story starts in Venezuela: a South American country mired in unrest, hunger, and despair. It wasn’t always this way. I have fond childhood memories of being surrounded by close friends and loved ones in the bustling capital city of Caracas. Not too long ago, Venezuela was the most prosperous country in South America.