District Court for NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, second left, Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, right, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer Maria Camacho, left, pose for a photo with the new U.S. citizens shortly after they were sworn in at the federal courthouse on Thursday.
TWENTY new U.S. citizens, including a news reporter and a 74-year-old woman, took the oath of allegiance on Thursday at the District Court for the NMI in Gualo Rai.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona swore in the new citizens with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer Maria Camacho and the guest speaker, Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, Joint Region Marianas commander, joining her for the ceremony at 10 a.m.
The new U.S. citizens are Tamara Natalia Adel, Candylen Rocomora Camu, Japie Alcorcon Cruz, Felisa Balingit Guevarra, Reagime Rufino Jensen, Mountain Ho Joo Joo, Sung Chul Kim, Patricia Apolonio Magallano, Bryan Ulysses Estrella Manabat, Josephine Hilario Orcia, Belinda Esguerra Palma, Leticia Felipa Gaffud Pantaleon, Sarah Jane Umayam Piteg, Antonio Paras Racelis, Glenda Lizapa Racelis, Mohamed Mamunur Rahman, Elsie Grace Narbarte Ringor, Ziquiang Song, Edgar Cunanan Tuazon and Maria Cristina Tuazon.
Judge Manglona noted that 74-year-old Felisa Gueverra has considered Saipan as her home since 1985. “And now you can consider this your home as a U.S citizen,” the judge added.
She said the highlight of the ceremony was swearing allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, and she also noted that one of the new U.S. citizens, Variety reporter Bryan Manabat, has worked diligently to exercise the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment.
“Bryan it’s so nice to see you in the box now,” the judge added.
She also acknowledged two couples who are now U.S. citizens: Antonio and Glenda Racelis and Edgar and Maria Cristina Tuazon.
New chapter
Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, in his remarks, told the new U.S. citizens, “Your journey is a story of courage, determination and resilience.”
“The commitment you are making today is especially remarkable because here on Saipan, we are thousands of miles away from the nearest coast of the continental U.S. It goes to show that our American values ring true and inspire people to seek democracy all around the world,” he said.
It was the first day of a new chapter in their lives, he said, “but you bring with you a vast array of experiences that have shaped who you are today.”
In taking the oath, DeVore said, “you join millions of naturalized citizens who also chose America, and have contributed to our nation’s incredible diversity through sharing their traditions, language and perspectives. I hope you do the same.”
“Today, you mark the start of your American Dream and that can truly be anything you want it to be. For some of you, the American Dream might be starting a little later in life, and that’s okay. It is especially inspiring to see that American citizenship is worth the wait,” he added.
DeVore also expressed gratitude to the families and friends who came to show their support for their loved ones on their journey to American citizenship.
