Filipinos join new U.S. citizens mass in oath-taking

Relatives and friends of new U.S. citizens make themselves comfortable after being allowed inside the balcony of the theater to witness their loved one take their oath of allegiance. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum

OAKLAND, California — Far from dampening their spirits, the intermittent February rains and at times bitter cold seemed to add to the excitement of hundreds of would-be new American citizens garbed in their best clothes, as they snaked their way into the iconic Paramount Theater in downtown Oakland to take the oath of allegiance to the United States.

Many of the aspiring citizens brought along their loved ones to perhaps the most important event yet in their search for the American Dream. There were peddlers of American flags, roses, umbrellas and certificate cases on the sidewalk outside the theater.

There were 1,069 naturalization candidates for the afternoon session of oath-taking day. That morning, about 1,100 others had sworn in.

Originally from Bocaue, Bulacan and now residents of Martinez, California, husband and wife Ray and Teresita delos Reyes took only three years to become American citizens, thanks to their children who came to the U.S. earlier to petition for them. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum

Wheelchair-bound Julian Buena of Bao, Camarines Sur , now of San Mateo, California came with his wife, Francia, and endured the cold, wind and rain.

“I may look weak as I am in a wheelchair, but I feel happy to be braving the rains while waiting to get in for the oath ceremony. I have been here in the U.S. for eight years already and it is just the right time for me to become a citizen especially since I have additional benefits I can now avail of being disabled,” said a beaming Buena, who is the third of seven siblings to become a U.S. citizen. His four other siblings are expected to follow suit in the coming months.

Another San Mateo resident Christina, not her real name, a middle-aged Filipina from Manila was joined by her husband, who had to skip the rest of the day’s work to be with her on this momentous day.

Hayward, California resident Raymond Quiñones of Caba, La Union feels relieved while waiting for his wife, Jennilyn, to take her oath after only a year of coming to the U.S. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum

“It is OK to be waiting in line on this windy, rainy day. The cold feeling is nothing compared to the excitement that I feel as I get nearer to the entrance of the theater. Finally, my dream of being an American citizen will be fulfilled today and I will now won’t have a hard time getting a visa should I decide to visit other countries,” said a visibly happy Christina who had been too busy with multiple jobs to apply earlier for citizenship.

Husband and wife Ray and Teresita delos Reyes, Bocaue, Bulacan natives who now reside in Martinez, California had a faster route to citizenship, taking them three years since coming to the U.S.

“We consider ourselves lucky that it took us only that short span of time to be citizens. We have Filipino friends who are overstaying and are not even sure if they would be able to stay long, considering the policies of the present administration on immigrants,” Ray confided.

“Our hearts go out to them who are still uncertain of their status although some have been here for more than ten years now. They came here to seek a better future for their families back home,” Teresita lamented.

Inside the theater, Hayward, California resident Raymond Quiñones of Caba, La Union sat alone in the balcony, feeling relieved that his wife, Jennilyn, was taking her oath .

“We can now really start our own family as we look forward to having children in the coming years,” imparted Quiñones who had been helping take care of nephews and nieces.

Nearly a hundred Filipinos made up the fourth largest number of afternoon oath takers. The first three largest ethnic groups were Chinese, Indian and Mexican. In all, 98 different countries represented in the batch of oath-takers.

Officials from the Department of State gave information on getting a U.S. passport and a very important document confirming U.S. citizenship and from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

More than a thousand permanent residents from 98 countries take their oath of allegiance at the Paramount Theater in downtown Oakland, California in the afternoon session of the whole day oath-takin ceremony. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Field Office Director Richard Valeika administered the oath of allegiance while U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey, a great-grandson of German immigrants, was the keynote speaker.

“We are very proud of each and every one of you for all what you’ve done to get where you are. Each of you has a compelling life story and followed the same process and I congratulate you in following the same process in becoming citizens,” Humphrey greeted the new American citizens.

“This will be the last time that you will have to stand in immigration line. I urge you to register to vote as soon as possible and start a whole lifetime of participation in American democracy,” Humphrey added.

Humphrey was the same CBP official who, KTVU.com News reported, contradicted claims of torture made by a Filipino human rights activist Jerome Aladin Aba, who was denied entry to the U.S. and was detained for 28 hours at San Francisco International Airport CBP office in April 2018.

According to figures, the USCIS welcomed more than 7.4 million naturalized citizens in the last decade with an annual average of 700,000 to 750,000 oath-takers worldwide.

Up to 73 percent of all persons naturalizing resided in 10 states (in descending order): California; New York; Florida; Texas; New Jersey; Illinois; Massachusetts; Washington; Virginia; Maryland in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016.

In the same year, the leading metropolitan areas of residence were New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (16.3 percent), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California (8.2 percent), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida (7.9 percent), while the top countries of origin for naturalization were in the following order:  Mexico; India; Philippines; People’s Republic of China; Cuba.

Fiscal year 2008 saw the most permanent residents naturalized with 1,046,539. In fiscal year 2017 – July 2, 2018, USCIS naturalized 716,000 legal residents.