U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth P. Neiman presided as 48 people became U.S. citizens. Watch video
NORTHAMPTON – Jesus Tobon left his home in Medellin, Colombia 10 years ago because he wanted a better and safer life for two sons.
On Monday, July 4, Tobon and one his sons Diego Tobon, who live in East Longmeadow now, became U.S. citizens. They were two of 48 who took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America at ceremonies outside the Hampshire County Courthouse. The ceremonies were a joint venture between the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Center for New Americans.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth P. Neiman presided. He told the group that his grandparents were immigrants too. He said “July 4th is a fitting time to celebrate your time as new citizens.”
Tobon left Colombia because of the drugs and violence that plagued his city then. “Every day, guerrilla forces (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), they’re taking boys by force. It was a big concern,” he said.
Since coming here, he received a master’s degree from Western New England College, works at Plastipak in East Longmeadow and sells real estate. Becoming a citizen “is the greatest day in my life,” he said.
His son, 23-year-old Jesus Diego Tobon, is in the U.S. Navy and sought citizenship “for all the rights ... I want to live here. I want to become (a naval) officer,” he said. The only way he can do that is to become a citizen.
For him, dressed in Navy white, taking the oath “is one more step to my goal to become an officer.”
Citizens from 24 other countries took the oath, including C.J. Roda, 28, from the Philippines.
“For a better education, for freedom,” he cited as reasons for coming to the U.S. He got his associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University, and is working on an master’s degree in business from Bay Path College. His goal to is to also become a Navy officer. Roda lives in Springfield
Will Fathi-Ahmed, 29, came to this country on vacation from Morocco in the early 2000s. He liked it here and returned. In 2004, he met his wife here, and he has been here ever since. “I’m very proud,” he said of becoming a citizen. He lives in Springfield and sells cars at Curry Honda in Chicopee.
The oldest new citizen was 83-year-old Maurice Howe of Hadley. He has lived in this country since immigrating from Australia more than 30 years ago. When asked why he wanted to become a citizen now he said “I hadn’t done it before.”
After the 45 minute-ceremonies, the new citizens were treated to cake but also to exercise a new right: They huddled around a table to register to vote.