An oath of citizenship, a pledge of allegiance, and messages from the United States President and Governor of Arkansas were part of the naturalization ceremony for 101 new U.S. citizens Tuesday at Little Rock’s Old State House Museum.
Governor Asa Hutchinson addressed the group, saying he appreciates that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and his own family is raising bi-lingual grandchildren because of his naturalized Latina daughter-in-law.
Presumably by accident, he said they are learning both, "'American and Spanish."
Hutchinson told the crowd anecdotes about his own experience of the “American Dream,” from his upbringing in rural Arkansas, to parents who did not attend college, to his role in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.
He also lauded opportunities and the freedom of speech in the United States and encouraged the new citizens to participate politically and serve others.
"It could be for your fellow citizen, it could be for the state, it could be for the families in your community. What are you giving back?” he asked.
“It’s emotional,” said Fredo Guzman.
Originally from Honduras, Guzman has been here 13 years. “This is a new opportunity for us," he said, referring to his wife and child. "It's exciting. It's kind of hard to explain what it feels.”
Guzman said he planned to register to vote immediately. He says immigration, crime, terrorism, racism are issues of greatest importance to him.
Bushra Saddiqui moved to the U.S. from Pakistan 14 years ago and says being a citizen feels great. She says the nominating conventions have been a “hodge podge” of ideas, and she hasn’t decided who to vote for yet, though she knows her priorities.
“Safety, first of all, and economy, jobs and everything…"
According to the Department of Homeland Security, in fiscal year 2015, 730,000 people were nationalized in the United States. Of those about 2,000 reside in Arkansas.
The group naturalized Tuesday ranged in age from 19 to 80 years and came from 37 countries.
