BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
WESTWOOD, N.J.—Twenty determined men and women from 12 nations renounced fidelity to any foreign princes or potentates at a ceremony at Westwood Public Library on April 9, pledging themselves unreservedly to the United States.
They vowed to take on work of national importance, perform noncombatant work in the Armed Forces, and even to take up arms for the United States when required by law.
And several of them wept tears of joy.
Mayor John Birkner Jr., a Democrat, welcomed the new citizens and their families to Westwood, their host for the day, and urged them to remember “that we Americans are a resilient people, and this includes you now, too.”
He said, “The foundation of our government is strong, and our society is much bigger and greater than any small group of people who have chosen to test our resolve.”
He emphasized, “We build no walls in Westwood. We are an open and inclusive community. We are not full. Our border is not closed.”
Birkner’s remarks, at the free public library of a borough that bills itself as the hub of the Pascack Valley, were in contrast to those often given by President Donald Trump, who lately has declared the United States “full” and threatened to seal the southern border.
Trump also addressed the new citizens, via video he recorded for such ceremonies in 2017 as part of a tradition inaugurated by President George W. Bush.
In a full voice, Trump welcomed the new citizens to “the American family” and called on them to “help newcomers assimilate to our way of life.”
“America is our home. We have no other. You have pledged allegiance to America. And when you give your love and loyalty to America, she returns her love and loyalty to you,” he said.
State Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-39) welcomed her audience warmly, saying few people realize “how difficult the path is that brought you here today, and the tenacity, want, and desire that you had to become American citizens.”
She noted “I am the opportunity that came out of immigrants coming here” and said that she is the first woman in her extended family “even to have the opportunity to go to college because of the sacrifices of those who came before me.”
The new Americans include Nikoletta Makara of Hungary, who met her husband, Alen Hajdarevic, a Bosnian refugee, at a Manhattan restaurant; Chen Grazutis, of Israel, there with his wife, Kirsten and their children Chloe, 10, and Dean, 5; and Manuel Guaman, of Ecuador, there with his wife and their young son, Kevin.
Makara, who Birkner noticed had beamed when he referred to his Hungarian roots, told Pascack Press she first visited the United States out of her love of travel and her desire to learn English.
While preparing for citizenship she visited 28 states. She said she’s eager to see the rest.
Guaman told Pascack Press in broken English that he is here “to build a future. For my family; for my family.”
Others taking their oaths came from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, South Korea, India, Jamaica, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, China, and Portugal.
Ceremony now a local tradition
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administrative naturalization ceremony was a first for the Pascack Valley when it debuted at the Westwood Public Library last year.
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements set by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
In naturalizing, candidates first pass background checks and reside in the U.S. for three to five years, depending on whether they are married to Americans.
They also pass English and civics tests, pass interviews with the Department of Homeland Security, and pay fees.
Some 25 annual offsite ceremonies such as Westwood’s follow requests from the host, and site visits from USCIS, which conducts outreach and guides immigrants through the process.
It often takes place in courthouses—and daily at that—but Library Director Martha Urbiel said the library, as the heart of the community and as a resource on everything from English as a Second Language to citizenship and job searches, is a natural fit.
She said she has delighted in having the ceremony hosted here.
Taking the oath last year were 17 men and women from Albania, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mali, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Korea, and Turkey.
Katie Tichacek, USCIS public affairs officer for New York City and Northern New Jersey, told Pascack Press that, nationally, approximately 750,000 people naturalized in fiscal year 2018, up from roughly 710,000 in fiscal year 2017.
For the Newark field office, the number naturalized in fiscal year 2018 was more than 30,000, she said.
Props to Color Guard, Taylor Andresen
This year’s library ceremony included a presentation of colors from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by Westwood Regional High School senior Taylor Andresen—who nailed the anthem’s power and range while tempering it for close quarters.
Call of the countries and presentation of candidates for citizenship were by UCSIS Newark Section Chief Andreas Charalambous.
Administration of the Oath of Allegiance was delivered by Field Office Director Paulo Correia.
Urbiel led the assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Keynote remarks were given by Rashida Tewarson, herself a naturalized American and a certified ESL tutor. She urged the new citizens to register to vote and to apply for American passports.
Freeholder Chair Germaine M. Ortiz, of Emerson, and Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso, of Mahwah, offered congratulations.
Schools Superintendent Raymond A. Gonzalez attended at Urbiel’s invitation both years, calling it an honor.
Also attending were Councilwomen Erin Collins and Beth Dell, and Schepisi’s chief of staff, Alyssa Dawson.
There were video presentations of “Faces of America” and a final, rousing, “God Bless the U.S.A.” (1992) by Lee Greenwood, accompanied by the new Americans and anyone else moved to join in, small American flags waving.
The Daughters of the American Revolution provided flags and goodie bags, which contained flowers, a tabletop American flag, a pocket copy of the Constitution of the United States, lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” pencils and a bookmark, and information about their organization, founded in 1890.