Former Lt. Gov. Pete A. Tenorio, Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy and U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services Officer Patricia Phelan pose for a photo with the 13 new U.S. citizens Tuesday at the District Court for the NMI.
FORMER Covenant negotiator Pete A. Tenorio was the guest speaker at the naturalization ceremony Tuesday at the District Court for the NMI where 13 new U.S. Citizens were sworn in.
“You come from different places, different cultures and different experiences and on this day come to swear allegiance to the United States of America,” said Tenorio, who is also a former lt. governor and Washington representative.
“Today you join over 300 million Americans of every political stripe and color in the pursuit of happiness, the right to worship freely, speak freely, assemble freely, promote a free press, protected by institutions designed to ensure that you are able to practice these rights unimpeded limited only by laws of the land and your own endeavor,” he added.
Tenorio noted that he and the other local people became U.S. citizens by virtue of the Covenant.
“The Covenant provided our people with the opportunity to be naturalized U.S. citizens,” he said. “It also conferred jurisdiction to the District Court. We all come to this moment of being conferred U.S. citizenship in different ways.”
Except for Native Americans, he added, “we all migrated to the continental U.S from some other places.”
“Sometimes we come as refugees and asylum seekers. Sometimes we are running from religious persecution, ethnic cleansing, climate devastation and starvation. We come from developed countries and war-torn and crime-ridden places,” he said.
“We come as artists, teachers, nurses, farmers, laborers and other professionals or young people who just want a chance at a decent life. We speak more than 180 languages and sometimes not a word of English. We know it will be hard and yet we came. We are a melting pot or a mixed salad of backgrounds from over 190 countries, many religions, cultures and beliefs, but we come to live in a country committed to strive for equality, justice, and the protection of essential rights for all its peoples,” Tenorio said.
“This is the promise of American citizenship. It is more than for ease of travel with a blue passport or federal subsidies. It is the ticket to live your life to the fullest of your potential, and to grasp opportunity with confidence,” he added.
Presiding over the special court session, Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy granted the motion of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer Patricia Phelan and welcomed the new U.S. citizens to the American family.
They are Ignacio Quilang Achas, Roderick Ramos Capili, Daryll Mojica De Luna, Emily Jaramillo Faustino, Lourdes Pajarillo Garcia, Armando Cula Garote, Remedios Montuerto Garote, Daisylyn Reyes Ogo, Monica Recto Pangilinan, Piocardo Laureano Pangilinan, Carmelita Bulatao Sandig, Rodel Tanedo Villaluna and Virginia Grajo Villaluna.
