Cantigny ceremony celebrates 95 new U.S. citizens
It took seven years, but on Wednesday Claudia Sierra-Sokop finally was able to call herself a citizen of the United States.
"It feels amazing," the Colombian native said. "I love the country I was born (in), but this is my country now."
"The way the country has adopted me and (the) welcoming is just amazing and I feel very grateful with the country," she said. "I couldn't feel more at home."
Sierra-Sokop, of Palatine, was one of 95 people from 25 countries who took an Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.
U.S. District Court Judge John W. Darrah administered the oath and explained the phrase "E Pluribus Unum," or "From many, one."
"One from many recognizes that this nation was created by people from many different countries and cultures," he said. "Now our great nation, the United States of America, is even stronger than it was a few moments ago because you have stood and you have raised your right hand and you have taken a solemn oath to defend and uphold this constitution and its laws.
"You came here today as many people, bringing traditions and cultures," he said. "You will leave this courtroom with those diverse backgrounds, but you will leave as one."
The ceremony was the final step in an often lengthy naturalization process to obtain citizenship. Many of the people in attendance said it took between five and 10 years to reach the day, resulting in a palpable sense of excitement.
Videos featuring a message from President Barack Obama, faces of immigrants from the past and present and images of American landmarks and icons such as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore were shown during the ceremony. All the new citizens also had a chance to recite the Pledge of Allegiance together.
Keynote speaker David Hiller, president and chief executive officer of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, encouraged the new citizens to get involved in their communities and exercise their rights. He also called for a round of applause to acknowledge the dozens of family members who attended the ceremony.
"The stories of coming to America and becoming a citizen are almost always the stories of families," he said. "It's the family who brought us here, the families that we came here to join, in some cases the family that are still in other countries that we hope will join us."
Some participants, such as Sierra-Sokop, said they decided to apply for citizenship because they have married an American citizen, established a life here and plan to stay.
Others, such as Nepal native Khanal Krishna, now of Mount Prospect, said they wanted to be a citizen because it would open doors in "the land of opportunity."
"I'm very happy," Krishna said. "If we can be a citizen, we can participate in everything here, get the full rights."
Ceremonies usually are held in court, but occasionally they are held in a U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services office or off-site at places like Cantigny.
Applicants taking part in the ceremony had to meet various requirements to get there, including English language proficiency; an understanding of American civics, history and government; and, typically, three to five years of residency.
The new citizens were given information to register with the Social Security Administration and told they must apply for a passport if they want to travel out of the country. They also were encouraged to register to vote, and about 50 of them did so after the ceremony.
Irene Palacios of Elgin was all smiles after the ceremony as she took pictures with friends, clutching a red, white and blue balloon and bouquet of flowers.
It's been 10 years since Palacios moved to the U.S. from Monterrey, Mexico. She said she decided to apply for citizenship because "if you're living in this country ... it's the right thing to do." She called the ceremony "very emotional."
"I'm still a Mexican," she said. "I will never forget my country. But just being here (at the ceremony), it's giving you a sense of belong(ing), you belong here now."