In Exhibit Hall D at the Oregon Convention Center late Thursday morning, bleachers and chairs were full. People milled around and restless babies cried, as 500 people from 81 countries prepared to become naturalized U.S. citizens.
Finally, Quinn Andrus, a community relations officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, spoke.
“It’s because of you, America is always young, always looking to the future,” Andrus said. “I cannot hide my excitement.”
Judge Chanpone P. Sinlapasai of the Multnomah County Circuit Court was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Sinlapasai herself is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
“I promised myself not to cry,” Sinlapasai said, choking up. “We are a nation of immigrants and we are family.”
As Andrus read through the list of countries of origin, starting with Afghanistan and ending with Yemen, people from those countries stood, waved flags and cheered. The most-sustained cheers came when she read off Ukraine.
According to Sharon Rummery, a public affairs officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, large naturalization ceremonies are not uncommon.
“In the normal tempo of operations, large ceremonies aren’t unusual as field offices keep up with the flow of candidates being interviewed,” Rummery said. “This is the first of four large ceremonies we expect to hold in Portland this calendar year to naturalize people in a timely way once they’ve been approved.”
After taking an oath and saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the 500 newly-minted American citizens went through a line to get their documentation.
Afterward, we caught up with some of them to find out what this day meant to them.
Patrick Bisetsa, 30
Bisetsa was at the Convention Center with his family, including his 2 1/2-year-old daughter Orla, who was enjoying playing chase with her dad. Bisetsa has been in the United States almost seven years.
What is your country of origin? Democratic Republic of Congo.
What does today mean to you? “This is a very important day because when you are a citizen you have rights with that of course, responsibilities. But if you’re a citizen you’re allowed to do multiple things,” Bisetsa said, noting that there are government jobs you can’t apply for if you aren’t a citizen.
His citizenship, he said, will “open multiple doors.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “Travel. I am going to be allowed to travel around the world.”
Martha Hernandez Guzman, 56
Hernandez Guzman was at the ceremony with Chely Castillo, who also translated for her. Her 21-year-old daughter, Jocelyn Guzman, was also with her. Hernandez Guzman was one of the 81 people of Mexican origin naturalized on Thursday,
What is your country of origin? Mexico.
What does today mean to you? “It’s a great day for me because I was able to obtain my citizenship.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “A lot of things because now it’s different from having a green card. I can achieve more.”
Hiwa Jalal, 35
Jalal was at the ceremony with his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
What is your country of origin? Iraq.
What does today mean to you? “Today I am really, really happy.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “Vote.”
Aya Abdelli, 38
Abdelli was at the ceremony with her husband, Akram Abdelli. They have been in the United States permanently since 2017.
What is your country of origin? Tunisia.
What does today mean to you? “Everything. I am so happy, so excited. It’s like a new life.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? Abdelli said she’s going to register to vote, though she was also very excited to go out and celebrate with her husband.
Mona Maharaj, 43
Maharaj was with her husband and one of her sons, 6-year-old Nivaan, at the Convention Center. She has been in the United States for 16 years.
What is your country of origin? Fiji.
What does today mean to you? “It means a lot. I’m very excited to become a U.S. citizen,” Maharaj said, because she was the last one in her family that wasn’t one.
“So I’m very happy,” she said.
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “I’m going to have a black passport. I don’t need a visa to travel to other countries.”
Viktoriia and Olekcii Iashchenko, 27 and 35
The Iashchenkos were at the ceremony with their three sons, 4-month-old Levi, 2-year-old Philemon and 4-year-old Samuel. The couple has lived in the United States for six years.
What is your country of origin? Ukraine.
What does today mean to you? “It’s like a new home for us right now,” Olekcii Iashchenko said.
“It’s an interesting day with very mixed feelings,” Viktoriia Iashchenko added.
“Our heart breaks into two pieces,” she explained. “We want to stand with Ukraine and we love Ukraine and we are praying for Ukraine, but at the same time this is our new home. Our kids were born here. We love it. We want to serve the nation.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “We can vote,” Viktoriia Iashchenko said. “It’s a huge privilege and we love it.”
Ngan Nguyen, 30
Nguyen was one of the many people of Vietnamese origin who became citizens on Thursday. She has lived in the United States for 12 years, nearly half her life.
What is your country of origin? Vietnam.
What does today mean to you? “It’s a lot,” Nguyen said. “It’s a reflection of the past 12 years. It’s a lot of emotions going on right now, especially with the current environment. And I feel like being here, this is an affirmation that we can do a lot of things as humans, as a person living in the free country.”
“To see everyone from different countries,” she added, “that’s so beautiful.”
What are you going to do today that you couldn’t do yesterday? “Register to vote, that’s my first and foremost thing,” Nguyen said. “There’s a lot of election I want to be participating in.”
“And,” she added, “also I’m going to book a ticket to go see my parents.”
