As the U.S. presidential election is fast approaching, nine immigrants from various countries gathered in the hills overlooking Los Angeles for an outdoor naturalization ceremony. Among the group were individuals from Lebanon, Germany, Taiwan, and Mexico, all eager to become new American citizens. For most immigrants, the path to naturalization involves living in the United States with a green card for five years and passing English and civics tests. Many of them expressed their desires to travel with an American passport, participate in political life, and feel like full-fledged members of the country they consider home.
Chia Hsin Tsai, a 33-year-old marketing manager from Taiwan, applied for citizenship to officially show her love for the U.S. She expressed excitement about the prospect of voting in the upcoming presidential election, emphasizing the importance of being able to exercise her right to vote as a new citizen. For Floriane Turcat, a 37-year-old actress originally from France, registering to vote in California was a top priority at the naturalization ceremony. With a passion for women’s rights and reproductive rights, she hoped to cast her ballot in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and be a part of the political movement in the country.
Phoenix De Los Angeles Lopez Daal, a 31-year-old set dresser from Venezuela, always dreamed of becoming an American citizen. He valued the country’s principles of free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. While voting was not his primary motivation for naturalizing, he expressed a desire to vote for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. On the other hand, Dennis Beier, a 46-year-old film producer from Germany, sought to protect democracy by participating in the upcoming presidential election. With concerns stemming from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Beier hoped to support Vice President Harris at the polls.
For many immigrants, the naturalization process symbolizes their acceptance into American society and the opportunity to have a say in the country’s political future. Whether motivated by personal beliefs, aspirations for change, or concerns about democracy, these new citizens are eager to participate in the upcoming election and make their voices heard. The diversity of backgrounds among the immigrants highlights the richness and complexity of the American experience, as individuals from all over the world come together to embrace their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the United States.
