The 27-year-journey Daniela Machado took to becoming a citizen of the United States spanned continents and countries, finally ending with her right arm raised at a naturalization ceremony in the Princeton Public Library on Sept. 17.
The Austrian native dabbed at some tears, offering afterward that she was “emotional” on a day when she and 27 others took the oath of allegiance at an event run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
They hailed from 14 different nations, from Egypt and Vietnam to Ecuador and Liberia, gathering on what was Citizenship Day across the country and part of Welcoming Week in Princeton. As the name of each nation was read aloud, a man or a woman would stand, followed by applause from the crowd that had filled the community room of the library. Of the 28 new citizens, 11 came from India.
“I did it, I’m so happy,” said Sheny Flores Gonzalez, a native of Guatemala, surrounded by her husband and their two daughters.
She said she felt a range of emotions coming to the ceremony, from nervousness to excitement.
According to the federal government, about half of the 28 new citizens took their oath in the community they call home.
“As your mayor, I’m especially honored to be part of this ceremony today to welcome you as American citizens,” Mayor Liz Lempert said. “Immigrants have helped to make this country what it is.”
Scenes like the one in Princeton were playing out in venues around the country. The federal government said that from Sept. 14-23, during what is designated as Constitution week, there would be about 45,000 new citizens taking their oath — or enough to fill the baseball stadium where the Philadelphia Phillies play.
“It was important for my kids that I became a citizen,” said Machado, a mother of two sons. “It was important for them, so it became important to me. So I took the journey, and I did it. And now, I’m very emotional. I can’t wait to vote and I can’t wait for jury duty.”
Each candidate for citizenship had to meet a series of requirements, from being at least 18 years old to having been a lawful permanent resident.
Imme Dyson, wife of the award-winning physicist Freeman Dyson, is a native of Germany who has lived in the United States since January 1957. In an interview after the ceremony, she said the wait had “absolutely” been worth it.
“I’ve arrived,” she said.
“It only took 65 years,” her husband chimed in.
Earlier in the afternoon, Dyson stood with her fellow citizens waiting to take their oath, which took little more than two minutes for them to recite.
Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, a native of Mexico, attended the event and afterward recalled her naturalization ceremony 30 years ago in Seattle, Wash.
“It was emotional for me, because I remember what it felt like,” she said. “It’s like an extra step of belonging. You have arrived and you truly belong here.”
Ya-Mei Chen, the USCIS Mount Laurel field office director, told the new citizens not to forget where they came from.
“Keep celebrating your culture, keep celebrating your heritage,” she said. “And continue to learn the culture of your new country.”
In their first act as citizens, they along with the rest of the crowd said the Pledge of Allegiance.