‘I want to feel the freedom’: Elgin honors 30 new American citizens

Clutching an American flag and certificate of recognition, Dolores Ramirez couldn’t stop smiling after he crossed the stage Tuesday night during Elgin’s 26th annual new citizen recognition ceremony at The Centre of Elgin's Heritage Ballroom.

It was a symbolic end to a journey that began when he moved from Mexico to the United States 36 years ago.

“It took me a long time, but I always knew I wanted to become a citizen,” Ramirez said.

About 30 new citizens were celebrated on Tuesday from various countries, including Mexico, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Colombia, Venezuela and Haiti. The event was for people naturalized in the past year who either live, work or have taken citizenship classes in Elgin.

First and foremost, Ramirez said citizenship was important to him because he wanted to be able to vote, but there was something more intangible he was hoping for as well.

“I want to feel the freedom,” he said.

Judge Julio Cesar Valdez, who immigrated from Mexico in the 1970s with his parents and eight siblings, emceed the event, which takes place each year around the Fourth of July.

“For many people here, citizenship was a birthright, but for our honorees tonight, and many others, it was a journey,” he said.

The event is coordinated by a group of community volunteers representing Centro de Información, the city of Elgin, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Elgin Community College, Elgin Area Historical Society, Gail Borden Public Library, The Literacy Connection and YWCA of Elgin.

The Elgin Master Chorale performed patriotic selections during the ceremony. Afterward, the League of Women Voters hosted a voter registration table, and the Kane County Clerk’s office demonstrated how to use the county’s voting machines.

Amairani Jarvis, a community organizer at Centro de Informacion, explained the arduous process of becoming a citizen that she and all the participants experienced.

She told the 30 honorees that “today is not the finish line, it’s the starting line,” and urged all the recent citizens to exercise their new right to vote.

“At a time when immigration continues to be a topic of our nation’s conversation and many immigrants face uncertainty, your voice and participation matters more than ever,” she said. “Your citizenship gives you a seat at the table. So sit down and be part of the conversation.”

Mayor Dave Kaptain was attending his 20th ceremony, and lauded the participants for the sacrifices they made to get there.

“You earned your citizenship and did it the hard way,” Kaptain said. “When you do it the hard way, it becomes more valuable.”