Nearly 180 new United States citizens naturalized in Peoria ceremony
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The United States gained around 180 new citizens on Friday through a ceremony across the street from the Federal courthouse at the downtown Peoria public library.
In the auditorium situated in the lower level of the library, there sat around 90 people from Mexico, the Philippines, India and 30 other countries eagerly waiting to finally call themselves citizens.
Marco Sanchez moved to the United States from Mexico in 1996, but the choice to become a citizen nearly 30 years later was simply a calling he felt.
'Your voice really counts,' Sanchez said. 'Especially for voting… It's time to help out, and maybe we can help with the future of the country.'
Rosevita Muiruri moved to the U.S. in 2013 from Kenya, and to walk the stage after all of the hard work it took to get here, it's a proud moment for her.
'It was quite difficult. That's what I would say. But now and it's been a journey, quite a long journey, and now this is the end. This means I got it,' Muiruri said, waving a small American flag.
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In the back of the room, the families of those waiting to cross the stage sat, some with tears in their eyes.
The mid-morning ceremony began with a loud hammering of the gavel from court clerk Shig Yasunaga.
Yasunaga opened the ceremony by introducing the presiding Judge, the Honorable Ronald L. Hanna.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Services officer Samantha Brewer granted the motion to move forward and approve citizenship for everyone present.
After this, everyone in the room stood up, placed their right hand over their heart and said the Pledge of Allegiance in unison.
Judge Hanna introduced the guests to his right, took off his glasses and gazed upon the 90 soon-to-be citizens with honor.
He gave a brief speech about what it means to be an American. He talked about the long, arduous process that a lot of these people endured to get to where they were.
After his speech, Hannah had the representatives from each country stand until all 89 total people from 33 countries were standing, as one.
With all 89 people standing side by side with American flags in hand, Judge Hanna asked them to raise their right hand, and repeat the oath of allegiance.
Another ceremony was held in the afternoon, which brought the total of new citizens naturalized in Peoria today to nearly 180.
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