A pledge of allegiance

Another story about a new citizen and the problems he encountered during his very long wait for this day. DP

By Julie Wurth

The News-Gazette: URBANA – In a little more than 24 hours, Arturo Alvarado will be sworn in as an American citizen. And he's not about to blow it.

He's waited too long for this day – more than 20 years since he first left Mexico City to work in the farm fields of Michigan.

A few last-minute questions in hand, Alvarado, 38, arrives early at the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center in Urbana, as he has so many other mornings. The employees here are like family. They've helped his children become legal residents, nursed his wife through chemotherapy when his 6-year-old triplets were babies, made his quest to become a citizen possible.

He waits patiently in his blue Astrovan on this glorious spring morning until the center opens. First in line, he asks: What do I need to bring to the naturalization ceremony? How do I get there? What time should I arrive?

Though he understands English, Alvarado speaks in his native language. The center's interpreters answer in a mix of English and Spanish.

The ceremony is at the Carle Forum, and check-in begins at 1 p.m., they tell him. Be there 10 minutes early. Bring your naturalization form and your green card. And your wife, they add with a smile.

She can't make it, he says. Reyna Olea de Alvarado has to be home when the children get out of school. He has invited his mother instead.

"Tell her to try," urges Deborah Hlavna, the center's co-director.

He will, after all, soon become the first American citizen in his family.

Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.