by Tynisha Jackson
NBC News4SA
Thursday, February 21st 2019

SAN ANTONIO — Jiu-jitsu champion Fabiana Borges and wrestling champion Melissa Cervantes, were sworn in as U.S. citizens earlier Thursday along with 233 immigrants from 49 countries at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.

Borges is an immigrant from Brazil and came to the U.S. in 2008 to compete at the Nogi Pan American championship, but officially joined the Gracie Barra American team in 2010. Borges is also a six-time Brazilian national champion and a silver medalist in the 2010 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Cervantes, an immigrant from Mexico, began her wrestling career in 2014 in California and holds seven championship belts. It took 20 years for Cervantes to become a U.S. citizen from when her dad applied to when she began the process.

Cervantes says if people have the opportunity to apply and become a citizen through the process, it’s much more rewarding.

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