CHICAGO (WLS) — More than two dozen people from different countries officially became Americans on Wednesday during a ceremony at Midway airport.
Some said they’ve waited a long time for this special moment.
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This was the first naturalization ceremony held at an airport in Chicago. The new citizens expressed that it was a special and fitting location for their dreams to come true.
“It means everything. It means like I do belong from here, truly, fully,” Daria Rum said.
It was a day she’s waited a decade for.
“I moved when I was 19, and I basically grew up in this country,” Rum said.
One of the new citizens, Rum, is now a U.S. citizen and the first in her family to achieve this status. She excitedly shared that after the ceremony, she wasted no time in sending videos to her parents in Russia to share the good news.
“Now I can actually bring them here,” Rum said. “They’re proud, and they’re very excited that they’ve been waiting for that day for me. It’s my second birthday today.”
Over 25 Chicago-area residents from six countries, including Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain and Yemen, were sworn in as U.S. citizens Wednesday.
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The ceremony was intentionally held at Midway airport for the first time: a gathering place for those in Chicago and across the world.
“They should have the confidence of knowing that we’re happy to see them, and we want them, and that they have a place here, and that there is room for compassion and kindness,” Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer said.
As each new citizen grabbed their certificates, some say they want to use this moment to motivate others of the importance of immigration in a deeply divided American society.
“Let’s demonstrate to this bigger country that we can become good citizens,” Silvia Garcia said.
“They do see how important and satisfying it is to be part of a nation that, you know, for all its worth, tries to do what’s right,” Pallmeyer said.
Those like Garcia, born and raised in Mexico, say they want their stories to be examples for immigrant families to never give up on their American dreams.
“It doesn’t let me forget what I’m coming from,” Garcia said. “Just encourage them to stay stronger, they can do it. They can do it.”
Those in charge of the ceremony said another reason they did it at Midway was community engagement.
They say it’s often travelers’ first time seeing a naturalization ceremony.
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