High school Spanish teacher Mercedes Arteaga-Magana couldn’t wait to share video of her “big day” with her students.
Arteaga-Magana was one of 35 people from nine countries who took part in a recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony at Marshall’s federal court.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap said the ceremony was part of a special session of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He said he and colleague, U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne, were honored to preside over the grand occasion.
“This is a special and a happy day for each one of our soon to be new American citizens,” Gilstrap told the ceremony participants.
Living the dream
Arteaga-Magana said becoming an American citizen has been her childhood dream.
“I’m so excited and happy because this is the greatest country in the world, and I am so blessed,” she said. “When we were little, we were like: ‘Oh, one day we’re going to go to the United States.” And finally, it has been the big day!”
Arteaga-Magana’s family, her husband and daughter, embraced her with a hug as she left the courtroom.
Arteaga-Magana, who is originally from Mexico, said in honor of her accomplishment, she decided to pay tribute to her father.
“When I became a U.S. citizen, I decided to bring in my father’s last name,” she said.
Maria Mendoza, also who originally is from Mexico, said she was “very, very happy” about becoming a U.S. citizen.
She was thrilled to have her husband, Ricardo, and son Isael, there to support her.
“We’re very happy to be here, to see this moment,” Isael said.
“Blessed” is how Ricardo said he felt.
Laura Hickey, also originally from Mexico, said she was glad to be able to have her entire family, including her father and his spouse, her mom, husband and son, be at the naturalization ceremony.
“It’s a great accomplishment. It’s a long time waiting — almost 40 years,” Hickey said.
Bashir Folarin, originally from Nigeria, said he felt “so fulfilled.”
“I’m so glad, so happy,” he said as he paused for photos by the American flag with his wife and their three small children. “I’m proud to be an American.”
Betty Johnson, immigrations service officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the new citizens are from Canada, El Salvador, Germany, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Venezuela and Vietnam.
‘We are proud of you’
Acknowledging the wealth of knowledge the new citizens have learned about the United States, Gilstrap also encouraged them to continue to be lifelong learners.
“To be good citizens in a democracy, you need to become a lifelong learner, learning as much as you can about the issues facing our country, and the solutions offered to those issues by our elected officials,” Gilstrap said. “Learn as much as you can about the candidates who will be on the ballot when you vote in the future and as much as you can about the history of our country as a constitutional democracy.”
He reminded them of the quote by President John F. Kennedy: “Liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain.”
“Each of you made a conscious decision to become American citizens. You’re not here by accident. But rather you’re becoming citizens by making a serious and conscious choice,” Gilstrap said. “By doing that, you’re taking on an obligation and commitment as American citizens — not only to enjoy the benefits of citizenship but discharge your responsibility as an American.”
He said those responsibilities include: the duty to appear when summoned to serve on juries; the duty to render and pay taxes and support the government; and the duty to be a thoughtful, engaged voter in elections.
“Elections are important,” Gilstrap said. “The city commissioner or the county judge you vote on today may well be the congressman or governor or president that you vote on tomorrow. These duties never go away.”
He said he was honored to welcome U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, along with his staff, to the ceremony. Gilstrap also acknowledged city officials, including Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth, and county officials, including Harrison County Court-at-Law Judge Joe Black and 71st Judicial District Judge Brad Morin, to the event as well as members of the Harrison County Bar Association.
Others in attendance included the staff of the U.S. Court of the Eastern District of Texas, including the clerk of the court from Tyler. Participating in the program included the Martha McGraw Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, who provided each new citizen with a keepsake flag. Trinity Episcopal School choir sang “God Bless America.”
Moran extended his congratulations to the new citizens.
“We are proud of you and we welcome you, as brothers and sisters, to the greatest Republic … that has ever existed,” he said. “We are proud that you are a part of that alliance, and we are better for it. So thank you for going through this process, which I know must have been long and arduous. And thank you for choosing the United States because we are indeed going to be better for it.”
Moran said he believes it’s important to remember how the country started.
“You may not know that seven of the 39 signers of the United States Constitution were not born in America. They were born abroad — people like Alexander Hamilton, somebody that did great things for these United States,” he said. “Each one of those individuals chose to be part of this country. That’s special. And we thank you for being a part of the United States.”
Moran said his family arrived to America in 1812, hailing from Ireland and the other part from Germany.
“Both were seeking a better life or seeking the land of liberty,” he said of his family. “I’m just glad that they did. And I’m proud today to serve on the United States Congress, to make sure that your children have the opportunity to grow up in the greatest country in the world, so that other people that are seeking the liberty, and the freedom and the opportunity that we provide, also take the path that you have taken.”
