An immigrant single mom cried tears of joy when she thought she was arriving at a family member's back-to-school party but was surprised with her Green Card after a 23-year wait. Due to her previous undocumented immigration status, single mom Rosaura, 49, from Fresno, California, had worked strictly in agricultural jobs in packing houses and in fields despite being a registered nurse back home in Mexico. But when her daughter Ada Portilla, 23, turned 21, the mother and daughter started chatting about potentially having Ada sponsor her mom's Green Card application, as Ada is a U.S. citizen, and a citizen over 21 can sponsor a parent for a Permanent Residence card. Taking the leap was scary, Ada said, as Rosaura worried the change in status could get denied or she could even be deported. But in December 2021, Ada informed her mom that she had saved up to hire an immigration lawyer, and the pair began the lengthy process. For about a year and a half, the family did not hear back from immigration services. But then, in May 2023, Ada received a call to say her mom's employment authorization had been approved, the first major step toward a Green Card. This allowed Rosaura to work legally in the U.S. and seek better jobs, but as this card is a temporary stopgap until the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) decides on a case, Rosaura kept waiting. Then, in July, Ada received a call to inform her that her mom's Green Card had been approved. The 23-year-old asked her lawyer not to tell Rosaura so that the family could plan a surprise.