They came to Pierre accompanied by neighbors, coworkers, pastors and lawyers. They clutched American flags in their hands. The children wore their sparkly shoes.
More than 150 people became American citizens in a naturalization ceremony in Pierre on Friday. They represented 44 countries. Federal Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno with the U.S. District Court welcomed South Dakota’s newest Americans.
"You have courageously come to America and to South Dakota, worked hard to get to this point, and now have earned the most prized possession of any in the world — membership into the American family," Judge Moreno said.
Each new citizen had the opportunity to address the crowd. They identified themselves as refugees, students, software engineers, nurses and business owners. They expressed gratitude to America for everything from their education to the wonders of Hollywood and Walmart.
One woman threw her arms wide and declared "I am an American. Finally! I am an American, and I am proud."
Other new citizens spoke quietly into the microphone and waited until the crowd has dispersed. Then they shared slivers of stories of what they have left behind.
Alba Vasquez fled Honduras when assailants gunned down customers in front of her business. She had refused to work with the gangs. To help her gain asylum, the mothers of those murdered children testified on her behalf, then desperately planned their own escapes — or paid the consequences.
"It was very emotional," Vasquez said of her moment at the mic. "I tried to mention some of those, but I could picture them. So when I got the microphone, I just said I am happy to be here and be protected. And I feel sorry for those that die over there. I do."
Each story offered its own heartbreaks and hopes. Dimka Bahomonde and her husband met playing soccer at Northern State University. He was an American citizen from Mitchell. She was an exchange student from Chile. They endured a year-and-a-half apart while working through the arduous immigration process. Their persistence was rewarded.
"I have an American daughter now too," Bahomonde said. "I did it for her. This is me as a mom saying I can do all this and more.”
Nephtali Cuando delivers mail for the U.S. Postal Service. He was raised by a single mother in Mexico City. Leaving his home was difficult, but he is determined to look to the future in support of his young family, living now in Brandon.
"Mexico for me is my homeland, but it’s more my culture," Cuande said. "The culture is the one I’m holding on, not the country itself. Now I can go anywhere in the country and be proud of saying I’m an American citizen. To be part of the community, I think it’s awesome."
Annique Deneve lives in North Sioux City. Born in Columbia, she was adopted at the age of two by an American parent and a Canadian parent. Her father didn’t want her to have American citizenship, feeling Canadian citizenship was more appropriate for the family life. Deneve navigated the complexities of the immigration system on her own to secure her life here — after 40 years of a unique immigration journey.
"It’s kind of weird to think I could actually be deported. It’s weird to think that," Deneve said. "But when I went into my interview, it started to become — a thing. I could be. If I was to do something, or if there was a situation, or if the United States decided they didn’t want any more resident aliens, they could just get rid of me.
After the oath of allegiance, the new citizens stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. They took family photos in front of the American flag. They encouraged one another to make the most of the land of opportunity.
"You can be anything you want. You can get anything you want if you work hard," Vasquez said. "For me, this country brings me the opportunity to speak for those that are being treated like the trash of the world… and people who don’t believe the real situation back in those countries."
Many of these families spent decades striving for citizenship. Now they vow to do their best on behalf of the United States of America.
