They sat with expressions ranging from nervous anticipation to relief and excitement. A dozen young people from 12 different countries filling the front two rows of a makeshift conference area on the fourth floor of the Senator John Heinz History Center in Downtown Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

They were about to become the country’s newest Americans, mere minutes away from U.S. citizenship at a special naturalization ceremony, the first at the History Center since the start of the pandemic.

The children and young adults participating in the ceremony ranged in age from 12 to 19. They come from Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Jamaica, Libya, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Togo.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Chief of Staff Felicia Escobar Carrillo administered the Oath of Allegiance and presented the children with citizenship certificates.

“You are making history now, today at this museum,” she said. “We need you as a part of our country. I hope that as you embark on your journey as a new American citizen that you will tell people your story about how your family got here. It’s because of them that you were able to become a citizen.”

For some of the young people, the feeling of pride in officially becoming an American was hard to put into words.

“To be an American citizen, it gives you an opportunity to be involved in the government, you can vote, you can be involved in the country,” said Siddharth Puthucode, a 16-year-old from India who has been in the U.S. since he was 2 years old. He lives in McDonald with his family.

“I’m proud to be an American because it gives you opportunities. I want to pursue a business (career) in my life,” he said.

Nekeisha Venter, a 17-year-old from South Africa, has been in the U.S. with her family since age 6. She is relieved more than anything else.

“It’s just a long process to get through. I’m glad to finally be able to get my passport and get all the rights a U.S. citizen has, whether that means voting or traveling,” said Venter who lives in Morgantown, W.Va., and is studying to be a nurse at Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTECH).

“It’s a relief to just be done with everything,” she said. “We’re glad to be here. We’re safer here, and we have a way better chance for a future here just in job opportunities and making a difference.”

The ceremony included the Pledge of Allegiance and a videotaped message from President Joe Biden. Many of the children and young adults who became U.S. citizens Tuesday have supported their parents in their pathway to citizenship, according to Matthew Bourke with USCIS.

“The immigration process can be long and tough. You have to go through a legal permanent residency for six years before you can apply to become a U.S. citizen,” said Bourke. “So these children have been sort of going through the process with their parents for upwards of six years, maybe even longer. So, this is the culmination of their journey. It’s a celebration. It’s special.”

But 15 year-old Jean Irishura, a native of Tanzania who now lives with his family in Northview Heights, said after living in the U.S for nine years, he feels no different after officially becoming an American.

“I definitely feel excited to get my U.S. citizenship. I guess there are more rights and responsibilities that I have now, (but) I still feel the same that I always have,” said Irishura. “It really feels no different.”

Irishura said he wants to become an aerospace engineer and admits that becoming a citizen will help him achieve his dream.

“I’ll have more educational opportunities, and I’m definitely excited about that,” he said

Cameroon native Browndon Wafo, 19, of Monroeville, has lived in the United States since he was 7 years old and said he takes great pride in being an American.

“I was an American basically for the majority of my life. I’ve always considered myself an American first, and now I have the paperwork to back up that statement that I am indeed a U.S. citizen,” said Wafo, an economics and accounting major at Penn State.

“The reason I had to go through this process was because my birth mother lost her certificate of citizenship. I was naturalized under her,” he said. “So, it’s really nice to be here after a year worth of pain and fear that I wouldn’t be allowed to become a citizen. It’s a powerful feeling.”

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