|
69 new citizens swear allegiance to United States
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · September 22, 2016
Mohamed Hamed said he came to America years ago to escape war-torn Sudan; he completed the naturalization process in 2004 to gain American citizenship.
Four years later, he returned to Sudan and married Sulafa, and immediately began the process of helping her to get “away from bullet sounds, military and militia.”
It took two years to get Sulafa out and bring her to Coralville, where he worked as a software engineer.
And on Friday, Sulafa took the Oath of Citizenship herself at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, just outside the Hoover Library-Museum. She joined 68 other immigrants from 31 countries, ranging in age from 19 to 63, to swear to leave their country of birth behind and join the United States.
Sudan has been in an almost ongoing civil war since gaining independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt in 1956, some 60 years ago. The original government largely controls the north and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army controls the south. While the north-south conflict ended in 2005 and formed two governments, the southern government, SPLM/A, which originally united factions to fight the national government, has been breaking down into factions again and battling one another.
Mohamed Hamed said he has friends on both sides of the fighting — the South Sudan government and the rebels — especially in the state known as Blue Nile, where he once lived.
“We lived in the middle of a war,” he said, “and it’s not going to get better. We came here for a peaceful life.”
Sulafa and Mohamed have two children now, and the mother is attending Kirkwood Community College to pursue a degree in computer programming, while also working as a full-time mother.
She said she most appreciates the opportunity to pursue an education, and the broader freedoms available to her.
Antonia Rios came to the United States from Mexico about 20 years ago and now lives in Mason City.
“So many things are different” than Mexico, she said. “It’s beautiful (here) and there are more opportunities to provide for my sons.”
Her son, Juan, and future husband, Scott Pearce, joined her at the ceremony. Rios said she intentionally put off marrying Pearce until after gaining citizenship so no one would think she married him to become a citizen.
Scott said the family plans to vacation in Mexico to visit members of Rios’ family who still live there.
“It’s an honor to be (a U.S. citizen),” Rios said. “It’s the best thing.”
Antonio Munoz traveled from Mexico in 1994 “to get a little more of life” and support his family through work.
“We don’t have these opportunities there,” he said. “I like to vote.”
He said he also wants to ensure he stays in America because he married his wife, Lisa, 12 years ago.
“Now I can stay for my wife,” he said, noting that many others in his family came before and after he did.
Most of the new citizens — 12 — originated from Burma (Myanmar) and the second largest group — eight — came from India. Five came from Mexico and four each came from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ghana. Three each came from the Philippines, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya. Two each came from Pakistan and Ethiopia.
And one each came from Togo, Israel, Zambia, Korea, Vietnam, Bhutan, Sudan, Guatemala, Somalia, Nicaragua, China, Peru, Germany, Senegal, the Republic of the Congo, Columbia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Canada and Brazil.
Dozens of West Branch Middle School pupils, led by seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher Erin Brown walked to the site of the ceremony to watch the event and hear U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate deliver remarks.
Elected officials like U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives often send staff to read letters to the new citizens, congratulating them on completing the process and encouraging them to vote and get involved in their communities.
Ernst had been in Iowa City earlier that day, touring the Veterans Administration and learning about kidney transplant and pairing programs, mental health and veteran suicide, she said.
She told the crowd that “all of your journeys are unique,” but that they “all embody the American spirit” for putting forth “dedication and hard work.”
“It took a lot of courage for you to come to the United States and a lot of diligence to pursue citizenship,” she said.
Ernst said afterward that she will not be able to attend every year, but that it is important to welcome new citizens.
“It’s very moving,” she said. “These are people I represent now: the newest citizens of the state of Iowa and U.S.”
She said she got “a little teary-eyed” considering “what a great country we have” that allows immigrants to become citizens and welcome “all the talents they bring.”
“I was really glad to be here today,” she said.
The new citizens will be able to vote in November to help decide the next president, and Ernst said she believes that most of the new citizens “have probably been here awhile.”
“They’re probably extremely well-educated on the issues,” she said. “They will decide what they believe represents America the best and go to the ballot box.”
Pate congratulated the group for “the enormous step you’ve taken.”
He pointed out that the League of Women Voters set up a table nearby to register voters and encouraged the new citizens to stop by.
“You have tremendous power and influence and the liberty to choose leaders who represent what you have to say,” he said.
Chief Magistrate Judge Jon S. Scoles officiated the event, which is formally a court hearing, and diverted from his typical duties to draw attention the West Branch American Legion Chauncey Butler Post 514.
He recognized the Legion for presenting the American and state flags at the ceremony.
This is the 10th year the U.S. District Court and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services partnered with the Hoover Presidential Foundation, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and the Hoover National Historic Site to put on the event outside the courthouse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
