Schaumburg ceremony welcomes new citizens
Andre Van Vuren never imagined that he would change national allegiances at age 65.
But after taking his oath of American citizenship Friday in Schaumburg, the South African-born businessman said it's a big relief to make the switch.
“It's an amazing feeling,” said Van Vuren, who lives in East Dundee and runs a building maintenance, construction and vending business out of Elk Grove Village. “Africa's got nothing left for me. This is my new home now, right here.”
Van Vuren and wife Marna, 62, were among 73 new citizens of diverse national origins sworn in Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Manuel Barbosa during a special naturalization ceremony at the Schaumburg Township District Library coinciding with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
It took 10 years for the Van Vurens, whose three sons and eight grandchildren live in the United States, to get citizenship from the time he first applied for work authorization.
“We filed just shortly before 9/11,” Van Vuren said. “And everything went to smithereens after the Trade Centers were bombed. But it's over. It's done. That's the good part of it.”
The road to citizenship was long and arduous for many who took their oaths Friday.
“This is a dream come true,” said Buffalo Grove resident Faris Dababneh, a Jordanian native who owns a liquor store in Glenview. “Been waiting for a long time for this day. It's one of my happiest days, finally.”
Dababneh came to the United States in 1993. Today, his three brothers and a bunch of cousins also call America home. He said he is grateful for the freedoms and opportunities available for those who work hard in this country.
“Now you feel you have responsibility to prove that this is your country,” he said. “It's a big responsibility.”
Arnel Lacasandile of Lombard said he will work harder now that he is a citizen after 16 years of living here.
“I feel proud, finally,” said the 38-year-old registered nurse who hadn't slept all night after working a 12-hour graveyard shift before Friday morning's ceremony. “I guess I earned it.”
Several newly-sworn Americans expressed a sense of relief as if a weight had been lifted.
“I feel light,” said 30-year-old Housna Ghazoualine of Schaumburg who came to the United States three years and eight months ago from Morocco.
Ghazoualine applied for citizenship through her husband who is an American citizen.
“It (freedom) is more accessible, that's the way I feel. Free to go wherever I want,” she said. “I think it's the same even when I was a resident, but this time I can vote.”
Roger Callanan of Barrington said it was the best birthday present he could have gotten.
“It's a really nice thing to have done,” said the 50-year-old Motorola employee originally from Dublin, Ireland. “We've been here 11 years. I feel really good. I'm delighted to live here. We have a lot of really good friends” he said.
Special group swearing-in ceremonies are held once a month in various communities to give new Americans a memorable experience, said Martha Medina-Maltes, acting field office director for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“It's more intimate,” she said. “I think it means more to their families.”