28 New Citizens Take The Oath

Ruth-Ann Millwood raised her right hand and, after pledging her ​“true faith and allegiance” to the country she has called home for more than half of her life, officially became a United States citizen.

Millwood was one of 28 people participating in a naturalization ceremony on the Green on Friday.

Presided over by federal Judge Janet Bond Arterton, the 40-minute outdoor ceremony marked the final step for the more than two dozen foreign-born residents — cheered on by family and friends — on their path towards becoming naturalized U.S. citizens.

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen,” all 28 said aloud as they recited the two-century-old Oath of Allegiance. 

“That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”

Friday’s 28 new U.S. citizens hailed from 16 different countries, including Albania, Belarus, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Pakistan, and Poland.

And, in Millwood’s case, Jamaica.

The 20-year-old sociology student from Danbury said that she moved to this country at 7 years old, when her mom remarried. For her, Friday’s ceremony marked the culmination of a ​“welcoming process.” Though she was most apprehensive about the mandatory interview included as part of the citizenship process, she found that it was actually quite ​“calm” and she was able to ​“speak freely.”

As a new American citizen, she said, she’s most looking forward to being able to travel freely with her friends.

Hans Vanderspeck, a 60-year-old Woodbury resident who runs his own business building greenhouses, said that American citizenship to him means ​“all of the opportunities. Life and freedom.”

He moved to the United States from his native Netherlands 34 years ago. Standing alongside his son John and his wife Cathy, he waved a small American flag and smiled as he said he has not been disappointed by the life has been able to build in this country. ​“I came here when I was young. You can make it here,” he said.

Edwin Berrezveta agreed. The 46-year-old New Britain resident moved from his home country of Ecuador a decade ago. He now runs his own maintenance company, and writes and performs ballads on the side.

“This is a miracle,” he said. ​“I never considered I’d be at this point. It’s a miracle from God.”

He said he came to this country to find work and ​“start a better life” for himself. His advice to other aspiring U.S. citizens: ​“Don’t give up.”

Andrew Turner also moved to the United States from his home country of Jamaica ​“for a better opportunity.” 

Twenty years after moving here, the 47-year-old Danbury resident said he has found that ​“better opportunity,” working as a HVAC tech. ​“It’s a special time for me,” he said.

After administering the Oath of Allegiance and welcoming these 28 new citizens as ​“my fellow Americans,” Bond Arterton described in detail the many challenges facing the democracy that each had just sworn allegiance to. 

Those challenges include an ongoing global pandemic, poverty, unemployment, ​“deeply increasing income inequality,” drug addiction and overdose deaths, ​“gun violence of epic proportions,” corruption, climate change, political gridlock, institutional racism, and acrimonious debates around refugee policy, public safety, and the general national agenda and direction.

“But we can’t give up,” Bond Arterton told the group. ​“And we don’t give up. As American citizens, we must all share in the work to address our problems, to understand the issues that we face, to resolve our controversies, and to give thoughtful direction to our leaders and not be swayed by unsubstantiated rhetoric or misinformation.”

Since you are all now American citizens, she told the group, you can now vote. ​“Please register to vote immediately, so you can exercise your right to choose the people who you think will best govern and in your view will best deal with these issues.”

She also urged everyone at the ceremony to become ​“a part of your communities at whatever level.” To serve on juries in state and federal court when called upon to do so. ​“And, lastly, please never turn your back on your heritage or your culture. Keep it alive here in the United States. Share it with your children and your grandchildren. It’s like a family heirloom. Share it with your new neighbors and friends so that we can all be broadened and enriched.”

Local immigrant rights activist and fellow New Haven Green Proprietor Kica Matos wiped back tears as she lifted her arms in the air, congratulated the new citizens, and thanked them for choosing America to be their new home.

“Ours, as you know, is an imperfect union,” she said. ​“It’s now your imperfect union. It’s up to all of us to use the rights and privileges that belong to us as citizens to protect our democracy.”

This nation has not always lived up to the ideals laid out in its founding documents , particularly the Declaration of Independence’s commitment to a fundamental human equality and dignity, she noted. She also that this country’s history celebrates suffragettes, abolitionists, and civil rights pioneers. Those who stood up and spoke out not just when it was easy and convenient, but when it was hard and needed.

She urged them all to register to vote and to vote in every election — local, state and federal. She called on them to become ​“engaged, active and informed citizens,” to voice their opinions to elected leaders and to run for office themselves.

“Fight for justice,” she said. ​“Our democracy calls on each and every one of us to fight for justice. Only when we fight for what is just and what is right are we able to strengthen” our democracy.

So, she concluded, ​“let us collectively rise up to fight against hatred, to fight against racism, and to fight against bigotry. Are you with me?”

“Yes!” the crowd answered.

And with that, Bond Arterton handed out citizen certifications to all 28 applicants, and congratulated them on completing the naturalization process and on becoming U.S. citizens.