October 20, 2010 • By Tasan Thompson

Eulalia Garcia Maturey rode across the Rio Grande - also known as the 'Texas-Mexican' border - in her mother's arms, on October 12, 1909.

 

More than 100 years later, Maturey has become finally become a U.S. citizen.

 

"I want to spend the rest of my days in this life living legally in the United States," Maturey told CNN. "I was raised here, and I want to die here."

 

Maturey was raised in Bronxville, Texas where she helped her birth mother tend to her work - laundry washing - after she decided to drop out of school in the third grade.

 

During World War II, congress passed the Alien Registration Act which required all non-citizens currently residing in the United States to register with the government. Maturey received a "Certificate of Lawful Entry" card from the government on April 4, 1941.
Thinking that the permit had a time frame, she was doubtful of where she stood legally. The question was: Was she an immigrant or a citizen?

 

At 101 years old, Maturey developed the courage to go down to the immigration office. Maturey became a citizen with the help of her 69 year-old document.

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