STORY. MORE PEOPLE ARE RUSHING TO GET CITIZENSHIP HELP. TURNING TO LEARNING QUEST AS FEAR OF ICE RAIDS AND DEPORTATIONS GROW, A WE’VE NOTICED ABOUT LIKE A 25% INCREASE IN STUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CITIZENSHIP. STUDENTS ROAM THE HALLS READY FOR THE CHALLENGE. I COME HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO LEARN WRITING AND SPEAK ENGLISH, AND I WANT TO HELP MY KIDS FOR THE SCHOOL. SOMETIMES I WANT TO GET A GOOD JOB TOO. EACH LESSON BRINGS HER ONE STEP CLOSER TO CITIZENSHIP. LEARNING U.S. HISTORY, TEST PREPARATION, AND WAYS TO EASE ANXIETY BEFORE FACING THE REAL EXAM. I WANT TO GET IT BECAUSE I THINK IT NEEDS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR IN FOR HERE IN THE USA, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW THE SITUATION ABOUT THE PEOPLE LIKE KNOW HOW LIKE PAPERS OR SOMETHING. UNCERTAINTY IS ONE OF THE REASONS PUSHING HER AND OTHERS TO START THE PROCESS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU WANTED TO COME HERE? LEARN ENGLISH AND GET YOUR CITIZENSHIP? YES, I HAVE HERE. AND NO PERSONAL. INSEGURIDAD. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME. FOR. RESIDENTS IN CHIP, AS I HELP MY FAMILY AND FINISH MY COLLEGE. FEAR MAY LINGER, BUT SO DOES HOPE. YEAH. LITTLE WORRY, BUT I THINK IN MAYBE EVERYTHING CHANGING AND I TRY TO BE POSITIVE. THESE ARE THE TEXTBOOKS THAT WE USE FOR ESL STUDENTS, AND FOR MANY, THESE CLASSES BRING OPPORTUNITIES. IT’S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN’T NECESSARILY ESCAPE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE A PLACE WITHOUT FEAR FOR THEM. SO IN A WORLD WHERE THEY MAY FEEL A BIT MORE SCARED THAT WE’RE THERE FOR THEM. LEARNING QUEST OFFERS FREE PROGRAMS TO PEOPLE 18 OR OLDER, AND HAS A WAITLIST RIGHT NOW THAT PEOPLE CAN JOIN IN. MODESTO. I’M ANAHITA JAFARY KCRA THREE NEWS. MOST OF THE ESL AND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES ARE AT NIGHT, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ATTEND AFTER WORK. AND THE NONPROF
Stanislaus County nonprofit addresses rising demand for citizenship and ESL classes
LearningQuest in Stanislaus County is experiencing a surge in demand for citizenship and ESL classes as fears of immigration enforcement grow.
Updated: 6:39 PM PDT Oct 8, 2025
LearningQuest, a nonprofit in Stanislaus County, is stepping up to meet the increased demand for citizenship and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes as concerns about immigration enforcement rise in the Central Valley.”We’ve noticed about like a 25% increase in students that are interested in citizenship,” said Victoria Hernández, ESL program director.Students are eager to embrace the challenge, roaming the halls of LearningQuest. “I’m come here because I want to learn writing. I speak English, and I want to help my kids in school sometimes. I want to get a good job too,” one student said.Each lesson brings her closer to achieving her goal of citizenship. “I want to get it too because I think in these new opportunities for here in the USA, because right now you know the situation about the people that don’t have no papers or something,” she said.Uncertainty is a driving factor for students to begin the citizenship process.When asked about their reasons for pursuing citizenship, Rehftor Isla Guevara, a student in the ESL program said, “Yes, I have fear y seguridad .”Another student in the citizenship program also emphasized the importance of citizenship for her family and education. “It’s important for me to get my citizenship, to help my family and finish my college,” she said. Despite lingering fears, hope remains strong among the students. “I worry about it,” one student told KCRA 3. “I try to be positive.”For many, these classes represent opportunities for a better future. “It’s something that they can’t necessarily escape, but we want to make sure that we’re a place without fear for them. So in a world where they may feel a bit more scared that we’re there for them,” Hernández said.LearningQuest offers free programs for anyone 18 and older, and currently, there is a waitlist for those interested. Most of the ESL and citizenship classes are held at night to accommodate individuals who work during the day, and the nonprofit also provides free childcare for parents attending the programs.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
LearningQuest, a nonprofit in Stanislaus County, is stepping up to meet the increased demand for citizenship and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes as concerns about immigration enforcement rise in the Central Valley.
“We’ve noticed about like a 25% increase in students that are interested in citizenship,” said Victoria Hernández, ESL program director.
Students are eager to embrace the challenge, roaming the halls of LearningQuest.
“I’m come here because I want to learn writing. I speak English, and I want to help my kids in school sometimes. I want to get a good job too,” one student said.
Each lesson brings her closer to achieving her goal of citizenship.
“I want to get it too because I think in these new opportunities for here in the USA, because right now you know the situation about the people that don’t have no papers or something,” she said.
Uncertainty is a driving factor for students to begin the citizenship process.
When asked about their reasons for pursuing citizenship, Rehftor Isla Guevara, a student in the ESL program said, “Yes, I have fear y [quiero] seguridad [I want security].”
Another student in the citizenship program also emphasized the importance of citizenship for her family and education.
“It’s important for me to get my citizenship, to help my family and finish my college,” she said.
Despite lingering fears, hope remains strong among the students.
“I worry about it,” one student told KCRA 3. “I try to be positive.”
For many, these classes represent opportunities for a better future.
“It’s something that they can’t necessarily escape, but we want to make sure that we’re a place without fear for them. So in a world where they may feel a bit more scared that we’re there for them,” Hernández said.
LearningQuest offers free programs for anyone 18 and older, and currently, there is a waitlist for those interested. Most of the ESL and citizenship classes are held at night to accommodate individuals who work during the day, and the nonprofit also provides free childcare for parents attending the programs.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel