People from 48 countries all became US citizens, all waited 5-15 years for this day. DP
By Jason Ludwig
ahwatukee.com: It was a packed auditorium Wednesday morning at Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary School, where 199 immigrants from 48 countries stood to take the last step to becoming full-fledged U.S. citizens.
From places as disparate as Mexico, China, Iraq and New Zealand, the day was a culmination of anywhere between five and 15 years of waiting for some of them.
But this was it.
“Congratulations,” said speaker Slade Mead, a former state senator and Ahwatukee Foothills resident. “It’s fun to be in the same nation as you.”
The event was particularly meaningful to one participant: Ahwatukee Foothills resident and popular Cerritos teacher aide Karol Pacheco. It was her transition from Mexican national to U.S. citizen that prompted the naturalization ceremony to be held in the school’s auditorium.
“I’m going to try not to cry,” Mead said, visibly pleased. “I got a phone call from Mrs. Karol saying she was going to be a citizen and could she come to the ceremony. The excitement in that phone call was electric.”
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