A Student’s Journey to Citizenship

Zuhair Hanna is fun, spirited, and full of energy. But the road to freedom has been long and arduous for him. In Iraq, Zuhair managed his own heating and cooling business, working as a mechanic, and living comfortably alongside his wife and children. After a turn of events, Zuhair spent 10 years as a Prisoner of War (POW) with no hope of being released and no visits from family members.

Upon his release and with help from the United Nations, Zuhair made his way to the U.S. and found his way to CCF. He is very excited about the future as he prepares for his Citizenship test, his last step towards becoming a naturalized citizen. “I smile because I am moving towards freedom. To become a citizen, I will vote, and then I will know freedom,” says Zuhair.