That moment when you become an American
— John Domen (@JDDsays)
It was right around 9:30 a.m. Thursday that 44 immigrants from around the D.C. region heard acting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ken Cuccinelli say the words many of them have waited years, if not decades, to hear: “Congratulations, you are America鈥檚 newest citizens.”
At that moment, there was thunderous applause, lots of smiles, and even some tears on the faces of those who gathered inside the rotunda of the National Archives for this naturalization ceremony.
With the Declaration of Independence encased in glass behind him, Vice President Mike Pence gave the keynote address at the ceremony.
鈥淭here are no dreams too big in the land of the free and the home of the brave,鈥� Pence said. 鈥淎nd you are now citizens of that great nation. So live your dreams.鈥�
It鈥檚 what Mirella Saldana, of Falls Church, Virginia, vowed to do. Saldana has lived in the U.S. for 18 years after coming here from Peru.
鈥淟eft everything behind and I have recited the Pledge of Allegiance as an elementary school student, now a school counselor, and being able to do it here after all these years 鈥� feeling American, feeling part of the U.S., but now actually certifying that I am with it,鈥� she said.
Saldana added that she plans to use her citizenship to vote and advocate for other immigrant families like her own. 鈥淣ow I have the U.S. citizenship to do advocacy in a different way,鈥� she said.
Martin Davila, of Woodbridge, had a hard time containing his emotions as he gathered with his family after receiving the documentation that proves his citizenship.
鈥淰ery happy, very, very happy,鈥� he said, breaking out into a big smile. 鈥淵ou have no idea!鈥�
鈥淚t was a moment that — I wanted to cry. It was so, so intense,鈥� he added.
Though he鈥檚 originally from Mexico, he traces his roots back to a Native American tribe in Arizona, and he admits he wanted to be able to say he was part of the United States as well.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be an American because it鈥檚 the land of the freedom,鈥� said Davila. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful. It鈥檚 nice to be an American. Not everybody has the same privilege that we have in America. A lot of people wish to be the way we are but, unfortunately, they don鈥檛 have the privilege that we have. It is beautiful to be an American.鈥�
