July 3, 2008, 11:36PM
This Independence Day special for new citizens
Taking the oath, they feel 'part of something bigger'


By DALE LEZON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle



As Americans celebrate this Fourth of July holiday, Maritza Reyes will be among the giddiest revelers waving Old Glory and cheering star-spangled fireworks.

A legal resident for years from El Salvador, Reyes said she never felt she belonged here, but this year she is one of the nation's newest citizens.

"I can really party," she said. "I finally get to be part of Independence Day and to feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself."

Reyes, 24, was among about 1,900 people from 110 countries who took their oath of allegiance Wednesday during a naturalization session at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center in north central Harris County.

She said she came here when she was 2 years old with her mother to escape war-torn El Salvador. She grew up in Pasadena, graduated from Pasadena High School and is a senior at Baylor University.

But she said she had never applied for citizenship because she didn't consider herself an immigrant.

"I'm excited," she said. "This is closure. This completes everything. I get to graduate, do this, and I get to vote for the very first time."


Process takes months
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials said they organize about one such ceremony every month. Usually about 2,700 people are sworn in as new citizens each time. The process — from applying for citizenship to taking the oath — usually takes eight to 14 months, said Jimmy Jackson, a department spokesman.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided at Wednesday's nearly half-hour session. The U.S. Marine Corps Hymn, other martial music and America the Beautiful played through a sound system. Hittner administered the oath as the new citizens stood and raised their right hands.

They said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang The Star-Spangled Banner.

"On this July Fourth, you, each of you, can celebrate your new status as members of this country," Hittner told them.

U.S. Postal Service officials attended the ceremony to help new citizens apply for passports, and members of the League Of Women Voters helped them register to vote.


'It's an important day'
About 78 percent of the new citizens registered before they left the building, said Linda Cohn, of the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area.

So far this year, about 15,000 new citizens have registered to vote at naturalization ceremonies in the Houston area, she said.

"It's an exciting day," Cohn said. "It's an important day for them and all of America. It's a splendid right of American renewal. People are throwing in their lot with America."

At 95 years old, Lorenzo Medina was one of the oldest taking the allegiance oath. He waved a small U.S. flag and smiled.

"I'm excited," he said.

Military service members also were among the new citizens.

"I'm pumped," said Frank Johnson, 46, an Australia native who has been in the U.S. since 2002 and is a member of the Texas State Guard.

"I'm very happy about it," said Richard Aham, 40, a Navy active-duty reservist originally from Nigeria and stationed here.


'On top of a mountain'
Liliane Li, who came here with her parents from Vietnam in 1979 when she was 5 years old, said her new citizenship will mean more opportunities. This Independence Day, she said, will be more special for her than any other.

"It's great," she said. "It's liberating. I feel like I'm standing on top of a mountain."

dale.lezon@chron.com


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5871254.html