Vanessa Faura, Director of Programs and Engagement for Foundation for the Restoration of America, said April 4 that "America is the greatest country on earth" in relation to her work equipping legal immigrants with knowledge of the nation's founding principles.
The topic matters as naturalization remains a significant pathway for immigrants seeking full participation in American civic life. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data for fiscal year 2024, more than 818,500 individuals became naturalized citizens. The agency reported that naturalizations have averaged more than 700,000 per year over the past decade, with more than 7.9 million new citizens naturalized during that period, reflecting sustained levels of legal immigration and citizenship completion according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Faura made her statement in an interview featured by Restoration News as a preview from the inaugural edition of Independence Magazine. The article profiles her leadership of the Citizenship Masterclass offered through the Foundation for the Restoration of America and draws on her experience as a naturalized citizen. The program is presented as a resource for lawful permanent residents preparing for the citizenship process and learning about U.S. founding principles according to Restoration News.
Faura said, "How could we study only from a bank of questions, memorize the answers, pass a test, and easily become American citizens? The more I researched, the more I discovered the incredible story of our founding, the principles behind a constitutional republic, and ideas I had never been exposed to. It all began to make sense as to why America is the greatest country on earth. The real question should be why is America the most exceptional nation in the world to begin with," according to Restoration News.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows the total number of naturalized citizens living in the United States reached approximately 25.8 million as of 2024. The bureau’s surveys track this population as it continues to grow through ongoing naturalization under established federal immigration pathways according to U.S. Census Bureau.
Faura immigrated legally from Peru at age nine and became a naturalized U.S. citizen at 18 after completing the required civics examination. She holds a master’s degree from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte and works in civic education programming focused on supporting legal immigrants through the citizenship process according to Simplecast.
