At the Indianapolis International Airport, 47 candidates from 28 countries became United States citizens at a publicly held naturalization ceremony on Nov. 12.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a naturalization ceremony is the highest point of the process. The ceremony was a court session within the Civic Plaza of the airport, open for the public to spectate with chairs within the event space for the soon-to-be citizens and the supporters of the candidates. It started with the opening of court, the posting of colors by the IND Honor Guard and the National Anthem sang by the Ben Davis High School Premiers when the Honorable Jane E. Magnus-Stinson was introduced as the presider of the ceremony.
“On behalf of the judges of the Southern District of Indiana, I honor you, our applicants, for citizenship,” Magnus-Stinson said. “I also welcome your friends and families who are here to witness history in your lives, and also to all of our guests who are here to celebrate this very special occasion with you.”
It has been a long-time goal of Magnus-Stinson and her husband to host a naturalization ceremony at the airport, often a person’s first impression of the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis. After being named the Best Airport by the Airports Council International World 12 years in a row in March, this marks the first time the airport has hosted a naturalization ceremony for Indiana.
“You will be the first, but certainly not the last, people to become citizens here at the airport,” Magnus-Stinson said. “Sometimes when people get married, not everybody is happy about it. And so it seems that in our country, you may get the sense that not everyone is welcoming. But I’m here to tell you, you are welcome, and in a few short minutes, you will be as American as any other citizen.”
Leading up to the Oath of Citizenship within the ceremony, Magnus-Stinson informed the candidates of the expectations of being the U.S. citizen. She explained the civic duties of Americans include being educated voters, responding to jury summons, speaking when an injustice is witnessed and following the law. After being called country by country, the candidates rose their right hands and recited the Oath of Citizenship.
After the oath was recited, ceremony honorifics were given to the youngest and oldest new citizens, Abdullah Zedan and Gadi Rwenyaguza. Zedan recited and led in the pledge of allegiance while Rwenyaguza was given a flag flown over the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.
Governor-elect Mike Braun wrote a letter to be read during the ceremony addressed to the new citizens, although he could not make the ceremony. Within it, he offered congratulations and an enthusiastic welcome to the Hoosier state, adding that Indiana has a long history of welcoming new people with “Hoosier Hospitality.” Braun also said the new-found freedoms within citizenship can be translated into being a participant within the Indiana community.
“You have completed the often arduous process to receive citizenship, and I assure you that the liberties and freedoms that you now possess are worth the challenge today” Braun wrote. “You join a long line of Americans that, from the beginning of our history, have dedicated themselves to ideals such as liberty, equality and freedom. By taking your Oath of Citizenship, you dedicate yourself to preserving those ideals for future generations.”
However, one Hoosier in particular that was welcomed is close to the UIndy community, as she is the mother of a UIndy student. Lidia Guzman, originally from Mexico, was one of the candidates who earned her citizenship after trying for years. Her son, sophomore business major Christian Maldanodo, translated some of the conversation and he said while the process of becoming a citizen was not difficult, it was very long.
“It was very easy but at the same time some difficulties,” Maldanodo said. “So as a matter of fact, to gain her residency, it took her 24 years. … But after that residency, for U.S. citizenship it was much easier.”
Maldonaodo said his mother’s pathway to citizenship spanned his entire life. Having the ceremony in a public place, Maldonodo said, was beautiful, as total strangers began clapping for the nominees and new citizens. He also said he hopes all new citizens are proud of themselves, continue to make their country proud and carry out their civic duties.
As Guzman finished registering to vote, she talked about why she wanted to be a citizen in the first place. For her, not only was it her love for the U.S., but it was the opportunities her citizenship allows. Guzman said she did a lot of studying, but it was not difficult as this was something she worked toward for so long.
“It means very much to her,” Maldonodo said. “It was a goal she always had. She says it feels beautiful.”
