The commander of Joint Region Marianas, Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman, and wife Judy Huffman pose for a photo with Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer Patricia Phelan, and the 17 new American citizens at the federal courthouse on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
JOINT Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman encouraged the 17 newly sworn in U.S. citizens to take pride in their citizenship, and to “carry the torch of freedom high.”
Huffman, as guest speaker, joined Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI in welcoming the new citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the U.S. courthouse on Monday.
“Today we celebrate the culmination of your journey, of courage, sacrifice and determination to achieve American citizenship,” Huffman said. “We gather not to just witness the ceremony, but to celebrate the embodiment of the American dream,” he added.
“Today you mark your first milestone in the American dream. As you make your first step in the next journey, it [is] also the time to reflect on the sacrifices you made to get where you are. Many … of you, left their hometown, where you grew up, you left friends and sometimes loved ones behind to reach your goal — that is not an easy thing for anyone to do, but this is a path you set up for yourself, and I commend you for your resolve to reach your goals,” Huffman said.
“Every citizen has the equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through…hard work, determination, and initiative. Becoming a citizen is embarking on a journey that requires all of these traits,” he added.
“As you take that oath of allegiance, you did not just pledge your allegiance to a nation — you [became] a part of [the American] tapestry … of diverse cultures, languages and traditions. When you swear your allegiance to a new country, remember that it was built by immigrants such as yourself … in this great land of opportunity. Your stories enriched the narrative of America, adding depth and vibrancy to your shared identity,” Huffman said.
“I encourage you to share your traditions and languages,” he told the new Americans. “Our diversity is what sets us apart, makes us stronger and better as a nation. Always remember that you are joining the nation built on the ideals of liberty and justice for all.”
“As citizens,” Huffman said, “you are part of a community that extends beyond borders. Embrace the principles of understanding … recognizing that in our differences, we find strength. Be role models of goodwill [by] building connections of friendships that go beyond cultural differences. In the face of challenges, remember the trials that brought you here at this point, as you embark in this new chapter. Take pride in your citizenship, carry the torch of freedom high knowing that you are now protectors of the American dream.”
For her part, Judge Manglona encouraged the new citizens to register to vote.
“I encourage all of you to exercise one of your fundamental civil rights. In order to do that, you need to register to vote…. You will [also] be officially on the list for potential jurors, and you might be sitting back in that jury box as a potential juror in a civil or criminal case,” the judge added.
It was U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer Patricia Phelan who made the motion to accept the candidates for citizenship.
The 17 new citizens are Dominador Palaruan Andres, Corazon Dado Barrios, Jennifer Torres De Guzman, Romulo Cuaresma De Guzman, Anna Victoria Bularon Ga, Eligio Rosarda Garcia, Manuel Reyes Gatbonton, Maria Ana Lavarez Ingram, MD Serajul Islam, Parlichard King, Adelaida Rasario Lazareto, Rodolfo Macaltao Navarro, Pavol Rovnan, Raquel Noemi Santos, Xiao Tang, Gemma Radam Villanueva, and Noe Manago Villanueva.
