They came from Bosnia-Herzegovina, from Pakistan and India, from
the United Kingdom, from Cuba, from Iran and Iraq, and from Canada
and Mexico
– from 16 countries in all.
On Tuesday, 53 men and women raised their right hands and swore
allegiance to the United States at a citizenship ceremony at the
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
ELKHORN SLOUGH
They came from Bosnia-Herzegovina, from Pakistan and India, from the United Kingdom, from Cuba, from Iran and Iraq, and from Canada and Mexico – from 16 countries in all.
On Tuesday, 53 men and women raised their right hands and swore allegiance to the United States at a citizenship ceremony at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
“It means opportunity,” said Cabrillo College student Pilar Bayuga, “to continue the American dream, not just for me, but for my family as well.”
Bayuga, 37, of Santa Cruz, immigrated to the United States nearly five years ago to join her husband, an immigrant who was naturalized earlier. She was one of several new citizens from the Philippines, where, she said, there’s a visible gap between rich and poor and little chance to improve one’s status. In her new country, said Bayuga, who is taking prerequisite courses in hopes of getting into Cabrillo’s nursing program, anyone willing to work hard can be successful.
For Amanda Muzzi, a Santa Cruz fitness instructor who came to the United States from the United Kingdom as a 5-year-old, gaining citizenship after 50 years in this country gives her new status to speak her mind.
“Now when I go to a friend’s house, and all the political talk happens, I’ll feel I can join in,” Muzzi said.
Edmundo Luis, 36, of Seaside also came to the United States as child, immigrating from Oaxaca, Mexico, 22 years ago.
“I can vote, that’s the main reason,” Luis said.
The citizen’s role in weighing in on issues facing the country was a theme at the ceremony.
“Make this community what you want it to be,” urged the keynote speaker, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Lydia Villarreal, the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants.
Outside the entrance to the reserve, a handful of protesters from Tea Party Patriots of Monterey County were trying to do just that.
They oppose illegal immigration, but had nothing but congratulations for the new citizens.
“We’re proud of them,” said Bill Harris of Salinas. “They came through the front door.”
Inside, Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, said immigration laws “are broken” and need to be fixed. But he questioned the protesters’ “choice of venue.”
The 53 people learned English, studied U.S. history and government, and passed background checks to earn their new status, he said.
“This is a time to celebrate people who choose to be citizens,” Farr said.
Earlier, before she administered the citizenship oath, Carol Keller, field office director at the San Jose office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services noted the diversity of the crowd.
“Make no mistake,” she said, “we are as much a nation of immigrants as ever.”
