Nearly 700 new Americans and their supporters filled the Peoria Civic Center ballroom Wed. to take the Oath of Allegiance. It’s being called the region's largest naturalization ceremony.
Their reasons for becoming US citizens varied.
“Hopefully for, hoping for a job,” Cat Manalang, of the Philippines, said.
“Work, and family come first,” Isaas Martinez, of Guatemala, said.
But for some who already have a family or career here, the process was an item on the to-do list they’d been meaning to check off. For Doctor Nibha Saxena, a pathologist at OSF, she’d been putting it off for 17 years.
“I think the reason that actually prompted me to finally apply for citizenship was the political upheaval that’s going on right now,” Saxena said.
Saxena, who's from India, says she feared getting separated from her husband and children. Another new citizen, Saira Rattansi, who's from Tanzania, is a physical therapist in Peoria. She says she was similarly spurred by anti-immigration rhetoric.
“For me, it’s a relief that at least I know that no one can separate me from my kids, who are US citizens, all born here,” Rattansi said.
Dr. Saxena says she’s celebrating her new citizenship by going back to work. Rattansi says she’s going out to lunch with her family. Their lives, they say, for the most part remain the same. Except now, they can vote, and they can carry on with better peace of mind.
Like he did during a smaller ceremony in April, Chief U.S. District Judge James Shadid showed his grandfathers' naturalization certificates. They emigrated from from Lebanon.
Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos was among those to usher in the 667 new citizens, representing 86 countries. Rep. Bustos, a Democrat, encouraged them to vote and hold political leaders accountable, for the interest of the nation.
“Our country is special because of where we all come from. Because of our different backgrounds and because of the unique journeys that have brought us here,” Bustos said.
Before stepping off stage, Bustos took a selfie with the crowd.
Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat also offered words of encouragement and shared her personal naturalization story during the ceremony. Desmoulin-Kherat, who hails from St. Croix, became a US citizen in 1987 after graduating from Bradley University.