[Michigan, October 8, 2024]
Dearborn ceremony marks special milestone for dozens: becoming U.S. citizens
Portrait of Louis AguilarLouis Aguilar
The Detroit News
Dearborn — Immigrants from around the globe gathered at Dearborn banquet facility on Tuesday, raising their hands to take a solemn oath and sharing a unique milestone together: becoming U.S. citizens.
Twenty-five people took part in a special Oath of Allegiance ceremony sponsored by the American Human Rights Council and held at the Fairlane Banquet Center on Town Center Drive. Among those who took the oath were people originally from Albania, Canada, Congo Republic, Germany, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam.
They all arrived with green cards and left with official documents declaring they are full U.S. citizens that can vote, along with other privileges.
Sumiya Tasnim, originally from Bangladesh, recites the Oath of Allegiance during a Naturalization Ceremony at Fairlane Banquet in Dearborn, Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Sumiya Tasnim, originally from Bangladesh, came with her husband, young daughter and other family. It took her four years to gain U.S citizenship, said Shihanur Opu, her husband.
“It feels wonderful. This is a day we will never forget,” Opu said.
Immigration has become a wedge issue during this year’s presidential election, but Tuesday’s ceremony, held in a venue that caters to weddings and banquets, took on the formal, familial air of a school graduation. Most new citizens came with multi-generations of family. Many attendees held small American flags as they took the final official step in their often years-long journey to become U.S. citizens.
The Oath of Allegiance to the United States is a sworn declaration that every citizenship applicant must recite during a formal ceremony in order to become a naturalized American citizen. The tradition of the ceremony dates to the 18th century.
Nadia Chowdhury, originally from Bangladesh, recites the Oath of Allegiance during a Naturalization Ceremony at Fairlane Banquet in Dearborn, Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
The Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit is the primary location for naturalizing new citizens in Metro Detroit. Ceremonies usually take place once a month. But once a year, the Dearborn nonprofit American Human Rights Council sponsors an oath ceremony to be held at the banquet hall near Fairlane Mall.
Imad Hamad, executive director of the nonprofit, was among the speakers Tuesday who celebrated the new citizens, reminding them of their new rights and responsibilities as an American.
“Don’t let anybody fool you that the U.S. Constitution is not a living document,” Hamad said.
Hani Bawardi, assistant professor of history and Arab-American studies at University of Michigan-Dearborn, recited an early 20th century poem by Khalil Gibran, who was Lebanese-American. The poem called “I Believe in You” speaks of people of Middle Eastern heritage becoming in U.S citizens.
Imad Hamad, executive director of the American Human Rights Council, speaks during a Naturalization Ceremony at Fairlane Banquet in Dearborn, Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
“I believe that you have inherited from your forefathers an ancient dream, a song, a prophecy, which you can proudly lay as a gift of gratitude upon the lap of America,” Bawardi said, reciting the poem.
“I believe that you can say to the founders of this great nation, ‘Here I am, a youth, a young tree whose roots were plucked from the hills of Lebanon, yet I am deeply rooted here, and I would be fruitful.'”
Detroit News link: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2024/10/08/dearborn-ceremony-marks-special-milestone-for-dozens-becoming-u-s-citizens/75566167007/
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AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards and Dinner Gala Friday, October18, 2024:
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is gearing its efforts planning “Spirit of Humanity” Awards and Dinner Gala that will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, in Dearborn.
The Gala is AHRC’s signature program and prime event of the year to celebrate human rights and the culture of human rights.
Please visit (www.ahrcusa.org) for the Gala’s information and join us today. Your support is needed and appreciated. Become a human rights defender and protector and join the gala.
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AHRC Mission:
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The AHRC was formed to protect these rights and advocate for anyone whose rights are being violated or denied. To that end, the AHRC will build a tenacious, objective, and carefully guided advocacy program that will serve to defend individual human rights, whenever and wherever they are being infringed upon. NGO in Consultative Status with the Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC)-United Nations
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NGO in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations