Ceremony gives 51 new citizens chance for good life

MANTECA — Anwer Alrawni couldn’t hide his smile.

The proud Tracy man snapped photo after photo of his 10-year-old son, Sam, who patiently sat in his chair and held a small American flag in one hand.

It’s an important day, said Alrawni, who emigrated from Yemen.

Sam was among the 51 people who were sworn in as citizens by Ramon Castillo, chief of staff for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Sacramento field office, during a ceremony Tuesday at the Manteca Transit Center.

Alrawni, who himself earned citizenship in 2008, said he was overjoyed to see his son become a citizen.

“I want him to have a good life,” he said. “I want him to work here — have all the rights of a U.S. citizen.

“She’s next,” he added, pointing to Sam’s younger sister.

Thirty children from seven countries, including Afghanistan, Uganda, Mexico and Peru, were sworn in, as were 21 adults from countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and India.

“Many of you suffered a lot in your home countries,” Castillo said during the ceremony. “(You) came to America and brought your customs and culture ... the very best part of you … Thank you.”

Representatives from Manteca City Council and Manteca Police Chief Nick Obligacion, who shared his father’s journey of emigrating from the Philippines to becoming an American citizen, were present during the ceremony.

Congressman Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, who served as the keynote speaker, told The Record it’s exciting to watch people, especially children, become citizens.

“This is a choice people are making to become citizens, become patriots,” he said. “To see people step up and spend the time to learn and go through the process of naturalization and ultimately becoming a citizen is a big honor and it’s a pretty patriotic thing to watch.”

For 13 years, Melinda Neal of Stockton contemplated the idea of becoming a naturalized citizen, so Tuesday was “a big day” for her.

It was especially meaningful to share the moment she became a citizen with her two daughters and husband, she said.

“I think it’s memorable for them — to value being an American,” she said.

After the ceremony, newly sworn-in citizens and family members posed for photos and shared hugs. Some took the time to register to vote.

Norma Angelica Aguirre, 48, a dental assistant from Manteca, said in Spanish that she’s most excited about now having the ability to help get the right candidates in office, she said.

Twenty-one years ago, Aguirre left Michoacán, Mexico, disillusioned with the idea of having to leave her home country and start with nothing, she said.

But on Tuesday there were no signs of that.

As she clenched two small American flags to her chest, a beaming Aguirre said she’s excited to be a citizen and to be casting her first vote this November.

— Contact reporter Almendra Carpizo at (209) 546-8264 or acarpizo@recordnet.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlmendraCarpizo.