http://youtu.be/4DL0Y6nb1CE
158 people, from 19 different countries, ranging in age from 19-94 all swore the same oath and became US citizens. Mayra Ontiveros, the youngest new citizen at 19-years- old said it was one of the best feelings.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ontinveros said. “I came a long way to come here, it’s a great feeling.”
Everyone at the ceremony may have come at different times and from different places, but they came to America with the same goal.
“The American dream,” Nohemi Ronquillo said. “Work, school. I have 5 brothers, 2 sisters, the hope that we would all graduate and well all did, and go to school.”
“I’ve always had a dream to come to America,” Maryanne Loewe sad. “My parents have always spoken about America the great, land of opportunity, and I believed it as a little girl. And I wanted to live that dream, and I’m here today to experience it.”
“We have more opportunities to have a good life,” Benjamin Mendez said. “A better life for ourselves and for our kids, and that’s the main reasons that we are here.”
“To have a better opportunity,” Evangelina Costas said. “A better life for us, and I’m very thankful that, and that’s why I decided to become a US citizen.”
Now that they are citizens, most are also excited to take advantage of one right specific right of their citizenship.
“I am excited about voting,” Evangelina Costas said. “I can’t wait to finally get to vote.”
“I’m excited,” Maryanne Loewe said. “I actually want to get out and get involved with the office that they have here, and campaign, and get involved with community, and encourage people to get out there and vote, it’s important.”
“Voting,” Nohemi Ronquillo said. “Like I said, I work for the magistrate court, and every time voting time comes around we always have an opinion, but not able to go and vote that was hard.”
“That’s one of the reasons why I finally decided to become a US citizen after such a long time,” Evangelina Costas said. “Because I see the huge impact that one vote can make, so I’m excited to cast my vote this year.”
The new citizens were able to register to vote and apply for passports after the ceremony.
