400 New American Citizens Sworn in at Seattle Center on Fourth of July

by Soumya Gupta, with photos by Susan Fried

This year's Fourth of July was one of the happiest days in Anastasia Varland's life: She was about to become a United States citizen, and a country she'd given eight years of her life to became her home.

"The feeling is great. I've been here since I got married, and I always knew I wanted to become a citizen," Varland said. "I was here a year ago, watching others take the oath, and I'm here now." To her, being a citizen means being accepted into a place she called home a long time ago, and this acceptance now holds the possibility of bringing her mother, her only family in Russia, to the United States.

Varland joined about 400 people from across 78 countries who participated in the 39th Annual Naturalization Ceremony, hosted at Seattle Center on the Fourth of July.

Chief Judge David Estudillo of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington led the ceremony and granted a motion of 41 name change considerations, along with 400 citizenship candidacies, as he administered the oath of allegiance. The event began with the presentation of the flag colors and the national anthem.

Leanne Leigh, district director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, said, "This week, more than 10,000 citizens will naturalize across the country, and contribute to the growth, success, and diversity of our nation."

Leigh then went on to announce the countries represented in the ceremony, of which India, the Philippines, Mexico, and China had the highest number of candidates, with 37, 32, 25, and 24, respectively. As Leigh called out the countries represented, their candidates were recognized in the audience with applause and flags. The event also presented an ode to the original Native American inhabitants of the land through a unique performance titled "The Spirit of All Things."

Estudillo then spoke about his immigrant family's struggles to obtain American citizenship after moving from Mexico. Like Estudillo's family, many attendees were being sworn in after multiple years of waiting and hoping to be accepted.

Antonio Roberto Villena, 79, received citizenship after moving to the U.S. from Argentina three decades ago. He says he initially moved to the U.S. to treat his mother's heart condition, but he eventually realized he felt at home in the country and didn't feel like he belonged anywhere else.

Alma Gaviola, recalling her move to the U.S. from the Philippines in 2016 for her husband's work, said, "Being an American citizen gives me the right to vote and choose my leader. It's always better to get the freedom to make your decisions, and to me, choosing the administration that would help the country develop."

Gaviola and her husband were the first in their family to receive American citizenship, and they moved to Seattle three years ago. According to her, the five-year-long wait and overwhelming amount of paperwork seemed worth the celebration, which guaranteed easier travel and work opportunities in the years to come.

Gov. Jay Inslee told the new citizens that they had come at the right time, when the country needed people who still believed in and worked toward the "American Dream."

Inslee said the state of Washington had just received 400 new "Dreamers," who could work together and make informed choices during the upcoming presidential election. Newly appointed citizens are eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential elections in November and can register in their respective states.

He also added that those who became American citizens don't have to leave their cultures behind, and that each person was encouraged to celebrate their heritage and hold on to their roots and individual identity.

Ceremony Project Manager Alma Plancich, who gave the welcoming remarks and performance introduction, narrated the story of her move to the U.S. and how her family felt like outsiders for many years. She said her family's citizenship appeal was initially rejected, leaving her grandmother as the only member who stayed back in the country.

"I have a story to share, and I've never been afraid to share it," Plancich said. "I have been a foreigner, a refugee, a displaced individual, and then finally a citizen."

"All of us have a story that needs to be told," Plancich said. "So I encourage you to share it with your children, grandchildren, and others, because it makes an impact and helps us collectively build relationships."

Featured Image: Yididya, 2, sits on his mother's lap, waiting for her to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen during the annual Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony at Seattle Center. (Photo: Susan Fried)