Dozens of people who recently became naturalized U.S.

citizens were recognized this week in Bowling Green.

The city hosted its annual reception for New Americans, which included a special program and voter registration booth.

Our Laura Rogers brings us more from Warren County.

He was excited.

I'm happy to become a U.S.

citizen.

I'm happy to have more doors open for me.

Valerie Garcia was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States in 2008.

Me and my mom decided to move to the United State so we can have more opportunities for me.

Since I was about to graduate high school.

Garcia graduated from Go International High School and earned a degree from Western Kentucky University and is now a social worker.

I think it's important to get back because when I moved here, we weren't alone.

It was like everything was new to us.

So we find people that help us out and help us through that transition from not knowing the language, not knowing anything around and transportation and all of that.

She navigated those challenges over the past seven years and officially achieved her U.S.

citizenship in July.

It's just like a happy moment.

I still can't believe.

But people ask me, are you serious?

And I'm like, no, I'm just a green card.

Oh wait, no, I am a U.S.

citizen, so I still can't believe it.

Sometimes it's really difficult journey to even have the opportunity to become a naturalized U.S.

citizen.

Later, Becker knows that journey.

She's a naturalized citizen from Venezuela and today works as community engagement division manager for the City of Bowling Green.

It is a celebration for us because they are our newest constituents.

We want to recognize the fact that they're a part of our community, and we want to make sure that people are no longer talked about in, you know, politically polarizing terms.

But now they're part of the American family.

The city on Tuesday hosted a reception for those who earned their U.S.

citizenship over the past year, a process Becker describes as tedious and bureaucratic.

You have to pass the citizenship test, which was 100 possible questions that are asked on U.S.

history, civics, geography, government.

So I got asked questions about the history of the United States, some politics.

And I was like, I don't even know my own history of my back home.

So I need to learn a new one in a different language.

So it was hard, but it was worth it at the end.

Other new Americans agree.

As families gather to celebrate with support from the community.

My mom is the reason that I'm here, so it makes her happy that I'm doing what?

What?

She brought me to the state for seeing my family being happy.

So I feel like I accomplished my family dreams, my own dreams, or Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you.

Laura.

As a new U.S.

citizen, Valerie says she's most looking forward to voting for the first time.

The naturalization process includes a $760 fee citizenship exam, as you heard interview process and a thorough background check.