U.S. citizenship long process but worthwhile dream for many

The largest mass naturalization of Americans is viewed by many as happening July 2, 1776, when the nation’s 2.5 million people were swept into citizenship after passage of the Declaration of Independence.

Since then, the process has been shaped, loosened and tightened between when Congress formally addressed the issue with the Naturalization Act of 1790.

Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, professor of history at USC, said since that act passed, wait times to become a citizen have varied from two years to 14 years. He said current immigration laws make it tough due to quotas.

“We have this very complicated immigration system that is basically designed to limit the number of immigrants from certain parts of the world,” he said.

But for those who do get through the process, there are high-profile ceremonies held around the Fourth of July holiday and are administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. On Thursday in Los Angeles, 139 children became citizens. Over the weekend, about 4,000 will have become citizens in 50 ceremonies across the country.

Maduabuchi Onuigbo, 7, came from Nigeria with his parents when he was a baby. His father, Charles Onuigbo, was naturalized recently after winning the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services annual diversity visa lottery about eight years ago. He had been working as an engineer in the capital city of Abuja when he won. He went through the background checks, took the test (10 questions on American civics and history), took the Oath of Allegiance and chose to live in Hawthorne.

“I wanted my kids to have a better future and I knew that could happen here rather than in Nigeria,” he said. “If you work hard here, there is so much opportunity.”

His son then held up his hand and said the oath along with the other children — the future of the nation resting on their small backs and in their hopeful faces. Their little hands will become big hands that build, shape and care for the country.

“I want to be a doctor,” his son said. “I don’t know what kind yet, though.”

THREE-YEAR INCREASE

In 2013, 779,929 people were naturalized — up from 2012 when there were 757,434 that became U.S. citizens. It marked the third straight year for an increase after a dip between 2009 and 20120, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Southern California in 2013 had the second-highest total of people naturalized in 2013 — 70,189. New York City ranked first, with 136,513 becoming U.S. citizens in 2013.

The immigrants came from about 200 countries. New Zealand to the Netherlands. Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Mexico accounted for the majority of those becoming citizens in 2013 with 99,385 being naturalized. India was a distant second, with 49,897.

French Polynesia had the fewest in 2013 with eight from the tiny South Pacific island.

The process of becoming a citizen takes at least five years after obtaining legal permanent resident status, according to Nancy Alby, Los Angeles field office director with USCIS. Marrying a U.S. citizen shortens the wait to about three years.

Alby said the children at Thursday’s event are there because “their journey was their parents’ journey.”

Aditya Mazumder, 10, came from Bangladesh with his parents five years ago and, dressed in a suit, stood outside on Los Angeles Street after the citizenship ceremony. He said he wants to be an engineer — a passion fueled by Minecraft and Legos. His parents took pictures for what seemed like an eternity. He shuffled his small feet impatiently. He was anxious to get going.

They were going to IHOP to celebrate. His first meal as an American would be pancakes.

The future, it appeared, was shaping up nicely.

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