The news cycle continues to feed us harrowing stories of communities of color under attack due to the unavoidable influence of Donald Trump’s racist beliefs. We continue to see devastating stories of gun violence against the Latinx community, images of children being ripped away from their families and more images of our communities suffering as a result of dangerous laws and policies put in place by the Trump administration. 

So it’s almost surprising (yet refreshing and hopeful) to see the opposite imagery and portrayal of our communities when they circulate on social media. 

Earlier this month, Brianna Valle shared a video that quickly went viral on social media of her 76-year-old grandfather, Arnulfo, who had just learned that he’d officially become a U.S. citizen.

In the video, the grandfather can be seen overcome with emotion as he reads the news that after nearly two decades, he’s finally become a citizen of the U.S. “It took my tata 19 years to finally get his citizenship. Unfortunately, some families have to wait even longer, even if it’s just to become a resident. Be grateful guys,” writes Valle in a tweet.  

Many people though think that obtaining your citizenship in the U.S. or being on the path to citizenship is as easy as “getting in line.”

There is no line, and if there is, it’s never-ending—especially with the Trump administration’s policies on immigration. 

According to an article in the New York Times, one California man applied for U.S. citizenship in the fall of 2017 (after paying a $725 fee) and it wasn’t until February of 2019 that his application was fully processed. It took more than a year after he applied to be scheduled for a citizenship interview. 

The same article also states that the time “aspiring” Americans must wait to be naturalized citizens has skyrocketed to almost twice as long. Of course, the delays are a result of the Trump administration’s scrutiny of these applications and the diversion of staff from reviewing them. Further, it’s a result of the administration “introducing proposals likely to make it more difficult, and cumbersome, for green-card holders to qualify and complete the process.”

Once the grandfather (Arnulfo) had received his citizen passport card, his wife/Valle’s grandmother laid it out on the table for him to find. In the heartwarming video, you can feel Arnulfo’s relief, happiness, and joy when he takes a look at the citizen passport card.

Valle also spoke to Mashable about the heartfelt video, and she told the publication that her grandfather had gone to the ceremony to become a citizen in July and then he had applied for the passport. “He’s not very familiar with the process and when he had to turn in his citizen certificate and his green card in order to get the passport, he became distressed after a few weeks when he still didn’t receive the passport,” Valle said. 

Valle shared with Mashable that her grandfather also felt stressed when he would see immigration-related news because he no longer had that physical proof of residency from the U.S., so when he finally saw the passport on the table earlier this month—many of his worries went away. 

This just comes to show the real ways that the Trump administration’s stance on immigration hurts our communities. The news alone is enough to trigger or traumatize folks who may fear deportation.

Despite the uneasiness, he felt in the weeks leading up to receiving his U.S. passport, we hope Valle’s grandfather knows that he has many people rooting for him.

People who don’t even know him but were touched by his reaction and his story. “I hope people realize their advantages, while others keep striving to get theirs,” the Twitter user said. 

People on social media shared with Valle their own story about being a naturalized citizen and wished her grandfather the best.

“We take this for granted sometimes, but I know he *never* will. Felicidad!,” another user Twitter said in a post.

Even Latina journalist Maria Hinojosa replied to the video and shared her joy for Arnulfo.

“Crying crying joy,” she said in a tweet. “This is who we are.” 

Valle also explained to Mashable that in the video, her grandfather can be heard saying, “God this is all I’ve asked you, and you gave it to me.” 

“He studied so hard for so long but because of his disability and age it was harder him to learn and understand the questions,” Valle said. But despite those challenges, we’re glad to see that he prevailed and was able to see his efforts pay off. 

Congratulations Arnulfo! 

1. Celebrating 51 years of wedded bliss.

Twitter user @AzulSamantha recently shared a few simply adorable pictures of her grandparents on the social media site. Married 51 years, her abuelo was sure to remember the big occasion and treat his wife like the reyna she is. We can only hope to find this kind of love in our own lives.

2. It isn’t just our abuelitos who are teaching us about love.

Back in April 2019, this Twitter user shared a really romantic discovery. Her mom kept and pressed nearly every flower her dad gave her while they were dating. In the end, she wound up with a sentimental scrapbook that reflects the love the two of them have shared over the past 27 years.

3. A moment that will make you believe in love.

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make us believe in love. This Twitter user shared a sweet, little anecdote of a time when her grandfather made her feel that same way. When he peeped a picture of his wife on his granddaughter’s phone, this grandpop was quick to ask, “Well, who is that good looking chick.” We’re kinda swooning over here and we have to admit that grandpa’s got game.

4. We’re trying to be loved like this.

Love means taking care of the person most special to you. This tweet showed us just what sort of love we should be looking for. If something so small can be made so significant, it has to be true love. Do you have someone willing to do something like this for you? If you do, hold on to them because that’s hard to find.

5. Love is its own language.

Do you want to hear a fairytale? Twitter user @itsbiankahaha tweeted this lovely story earlier this month. According to the tweet, her mom and dad met when they were teenagers. Her mom, a 15-year-old, had migrated to the US and only spoke Spanish. Her dad, a 17-year-old, was from the States and only spoke English. Despite the difference in language, the two were able to fall in love and have been together for 21 years. Now that’s what we call a love story.

6. Love is the memories we have of each other.

This Twitter user shared a scrapbook that her mother kept when she was dating her father. Mementos like pictures, receipts and letters make up the album and remain a reminder of how much the two have loved each other ever since the very beginning of their story.

7. Daily reminder that “Aloha” also means “love.”

Twitter / @melkmat_

Love only grows with time and this throwback pic is proof of that commitment. Ten years separate the first and second picture but these parents look every bit as in love now as they did in the first pic. As mom says in the tweet, their love has only gotten stronger.

8. We celebrate more than just wedding anniversaries in this house.

Anyone can remember a wedding anniversary but if you’re truly in love, you remember ALL of the anniversaries. This tweet introduced us to a couple who is celebrating 28 years since the dad first asked the mom to be his girlfriend. That’s some tooth-rotting fluff right there and we love it.

9. We celebrate a couple that can tease each other and laugh together.

Twitter user @samanthaaa_eli showed off the kind of playful love that her parents have. After her mom joked that her next husband will be a gringo so she can boss him around, her dad responded, “Cállate vieja, I’m trying to watch TV.” We can tell that the two play around with each other like this all the time. After all, a strong sense of humor is always important in a loving relationship. 

10. The meaning of one true love.

Sometimes life gives us more than one love and we are given multiple chances to find the person we’re meant for. Still, some of us only have one true love. This tweet reminds us of that possibility and we’re definitely crying bittersweet tears over this one. Like the tweet says, once you’ve had the best, what’s the point of looking for better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcEvDH3eZww