'Being welcomed home': Independence Day ceremony in Phoenix celebrates new US citizens

About 100 people from 35 countries officially became United States citizens during a naturalization ceremony held in Phoenix on Independence Day.

"I felt it was something incredible, something that I thought was never going to happen, but it did happen to me, thank God, and I hope to work hard to do something here, in this country, for my family," said Angel Mondragón, who received his naturalization during the ceremony, which he had been waiting for more than three decades. "I think it was about time."

The ceremony, held at South Mountain Community College on Tuesday, was presided over by U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver, who administered the Oath of Allegiance and welcomed new citizens with a warming speech commending recipients for their new status.

"It's a pleasure for me to do it," Silver told The Arizona Republic. "When I look up and see a sea of faces from all over the world, it's heartwarming. It's hard not to get tears."

Dozens of new citizens were seen across the community college's gymnasium holding United States hand flags, hugging family members and loved ones, taking pictures with their naturalization certificates and wearing patriotic clothing.

Mondragón, a Mexico native, was among them, standing at a corner of the gym while waving his flag and proudly holding his certificate.

"Everything was beautiful, especially when you receive this little piece of paper, which many would want to have and are not fortunate," Mondragón said. "Thank God, here I have it."

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer was also at the ceremony with staff and volunteers from his office helping new citizens register to vote.

"The ceremony is always fantastic," Richer said. "We had 99 new citizens today. It is very special how important it is to so many people and something that most of us take for granted, but a lot people have been waiting for a long time."

'Being welcomed home'

Mondragón said he moved to Arizona from Mexico with his wife and his children in 1988, and since then he has been working as a landscaper in the Phoenix area, a job that he said is particularly hard under Arizona's scorching sun. "I came here looking pretty pale, and now look at how tanned I am," he said while laughing. "It gets very hot, but I'm always working hard to get ahead."

He said it was a special day for him and his family, adding that he felt this new step was something "truly big," and that he was joyful to be able to celebrate with his wife, children and friends who were with him at the ceremony.

Fana Fetur, who came to Arizona from Eritrea eight years ago, said she felt very happy during the ceremony. Fetur started her naturalization process about five months ago and received her certificate on Tuesday.

"During the ceremony, I felt I was being welcomed home," Fetur said to her daughter in Tigrinya. "It was very good, it was fun."

Fetur and Mondragón also encouraged others to seek information and begin the process to become citizens.

"America is good," Fetur said. "They should become citizens because it is a land of opportunities where they can improve themselves."

Mondragón advised folks to not be afraid to request information and ask questions about the process at U.S. government offices.

"It's not difficult, you just have to put your mind to it and keep moving forward," Mondragón said. "I have friends who, in fact, have already started to organize everything to do it too."

Naturalized citizens present during the ceremony originated from Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Germany, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Uganda, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

A similar naturalization ceremony was expected to be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Mesa Convention Center at 263 N. Center St. The ceremony will be guided by U.S. District Chief Judge G. Murray Snow, and Mesa Mayor John Giles was expected to attend to congratulate new citizens, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: July Fourth ceremony in Phoenix celebrates new US citizens