Moinka Lukes serves on our team as a volunteer coordinator. Today she reflects on her own journey as a former refugee and what U.S. citizenship means to her.
Growing up in socialist Slovakia, then part of former Czechoslovakia, I lived in a small town with my two older sisters. My father was a principal and teacher at the local elementary school, and my mother worked administrative jobs. My parents valued education, and my sisters and I were expected to study hard and attend college. Outside of school, I loved spending time in nature, a passion that continues today through skiing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Leaving Everything Behind
While my boyfriend (who later became my husband) and I were still in college, we made the difficult decision to leave Czechoslovakia because of the communist regime. We couldn’t tell our families we were leaving because we feared our passports would be confiscated.
We traveled to former Yugoslavia with a tour group, secretly planning our escape. After leaving our hotel in the middle of the night, kind strangers helped us find a way across the border into Italy. I’ll never forget struggling to climb the tall fence separating the two countries. My boyfriend reached back and pulled me over, and we were in Italy!
We made our way to a refugee camp in Austria, where we stayed seven months and completed interviews and background checks. Eventually we were approved to come to the United States. Although we first arrived in Boston, friends in Illinois told us their church would sponsor us. We flew to Chicago that same day, and their church welcomed us with open arms. They helped us begin building a new life.
Building a Life
When I arrived in the United States, I hoped to learn English, adapt to a new culture, enjoy freedom of speech, and build a better future.
I began by babysitting while pregnant. As my English improved, I enrolled in college classes while working full time. Eventually, I earned my degree while raising my son as a single parent without family nearby. Looking back, I’m proud of becoming resilient, independent, and growing through every challenge.
Becoming an American
When it came time to apply for citizenship, I studied hard for the exam and practiced my English as much as possible. I was excited but also nervous.
The day I became a U.S. citizen was one of the proudest days of my life. A close friend took the day off work to attend the ceremony with me, and afterward we celebrated over lunch.
Becoming a citizen meant much more than receiving a passport. It meant I could vote. I could eventually travel back to Slovakia with confidence. I could apply for jobs without additional barriers. Most importantly, it gave me a deep sense of security and belonging after everything it had taken to get here.
Faith Journey and a Place to Belong
Faith became an important part of my journey. Although I grew up as a nominal Catholic, I came to faith while I was a refugee. During that uncertain season, I prayed for guidance and came to believe that coming to the United States was part of God’s plan for my life.
Every immigrant’s story is different, but many of us share the same hopes: to live in safety, provide for our families, and contribute to our communities. We leave behind everything familiar and face tremendous uncertainty because we believe a better future is possible.
For me, becoming a U.S. citizen wasn’t simply the end of a long process. It was the beginning of truly belonging in the place I now call home.
Refugee and other immigrant neighbors in Chicagoland need your presence and support more than ever in 2026.