For the group of new citizens who took up the mantle of naturalized citizens on Wednesday morning, the next duty these individuals face is upholding democracy through their civil duties.
Thirty-six people from 29 different nations became naturalized citizens on Wednesday morning at Pennsbury Manor along the Delaware River in Falls Township. Some of those nations included Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt and Iraq.
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For many of the new citizens, the path to citizenship was a long and arduous path. The path, for many, was filled with paperwork, tests and phone calls that can take years and years to complete.
Puneet Jain, formerly of India, has been in the country since 2001 when he came to the country for the educational opportunities offered to him as a student of engineering. When his schooling in Los Angeles concluded, he decided to stay in the country due to all of the plentiful employment opportunities he saw in the nation. Sixteen years later, Jain explained he went through school visas and work visas. After more than 15 years in the nation, he made his permanent residence.
Speaking on behalf of the entire group, Jain commented on the significance the ceremony holds for him, as well as the rest of the new citizens.
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“Voting is the single most important action you can take, but it is not the only one,” said Jessica Hillburn-Holmes, the executive director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. In addition to voting, Holmes urged the new citizens to participate in juries and stay actively engaged within their communities.
To make sure the new citizens were able to vote, the League of Women Voters was present to help anyone who wanted to vote register to vote.
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The naturalization ceremonies are important to Pennsbury Manor due to the work that William Penn had in securing many rights for people who had citizenship, including freedom of religion, representation in government and trial by jury.
Douglas Miller, the director of Pennsbury Manor spoke to the assembly, making the connections clear to the new citizens.
“This is a way for us to really connect to Penn’s work,” Miller said.
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Wednesday morning was the third year of regular naturalization ceremonies, according to Ron Matlack, the vice president of the Pennsbury Society. The naturalization ceremonies began at the historical site when the new visitor center opened about 10 years ago.
The swearing in of new citizens was presided over by Judge Juan Sanchez of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
