Vet Becomes Citizen After 50 Years

On Monday, Mario Hernandez was waiting to meet with immigration officials who would determine if he would be granted U.S. citizenship.

Hernandez is a special case as he came to the country seeking asylum from Cuba when he was only nine years old.

He joined the army during the Vietnam War, raised his family here, and worked as a federal employee.

The entire time Hernandez thought he was a U.S. citizen only to find out fifty years into living in this country that he wasn't.

Well, here's good news and a happy ending.

Now he is. Hernandez  was granted citizenship on Wednesday.

"My wife and I are both elated," he said on "New Day" Friday.

"We’re so happy. I have so much to be thankful for. I really appreciate the people who supported us."

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