‘The Path Forward': An immigration journey from Cuba to Connecticut
When NBC Connecticut reported on the federal crackdown on illegal immigration, one response repeatedly surfaced online: “Just do it the right way.”
NBC Connecticut Investigates examined what that phrase actually meant by telling the story of Danessa Pedroso, who came to the United States from Cuba as a child and later became a U.S. citizen.
Pedroso moved to Connecticut in 2006, when she was 12 years old. Her grandfather had been a political prisoner in Cuba after speaking out against the government in the 1960s. Because of that history, he qualified for a refugee program that allowed his family to leave the island and resettle in the United States.
“Without the sacrifice of my family — especially my grandfather bringing us all here — I wouldn’t be able to be as free as I am today,” Pedroso said.
Her family ultimately landed in Hartford, where she grew up navigating a new language, a new culture, and a very different life. She struggled early on to learn English and adapt to American schools, but over time, she found her footing. She later became a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on ceramic art and built a life in Connecticut.
Pedroso lived in the United States for 16 years as a permanent resident with a green card. In 2022, she applied for U.S. citizenship. Because her records were already in the immigration system, she said the process moved quickly. Within about six months, she completed interviews, answered civics questions, and was sworn in.
Even so, Pedroso said following the legal process did not eliminate uncertainty — especially as national immigration rhetoric intensified.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned,” she said, referring to discussions about revisiting citizenship decisions. “People come here to seek a better life. We’re not here to cause harm. We’re here pursuing the same dream.”
Asked about the phrase “just do it the right way,” Pedroso said it oversimplified a system that could look very different depending on a person’s background, resources, and timing.
“It’s a very intense phrase,” she said. “There are so many ways to do it right, and sometimes life just gets in the way.”
She said legal immigration required access — to information and legal help, and without those tools, even people trying to follow the rules could struggle.
Citizenship, Pedroso said, ultimately brought security and peace of mind. She now shares resources and information with others navigating the system, knowing firsthand how confusing it can be.
Her story was part of an NBC Connecticut Investigates series examining what legal immigration to the United States actually required—and why the idea of “doing it the right way” was often far more complex than it appeared.
An extended version of Pedroso’s story is available on NBC Connecticut’s YouTube channel, where she shared more about her journey and the role community organizations played in helping her family resettle.
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