Hundreds of immigrants become U.S. citizens at Seattle ceremony

552 people became citizens in this ceremony, many of them saying they did it so they can vote. DP

By Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times staff reporter

seattletimes.nwsource.com: The uniformed Fort Lewis soldier gravely recited his oath of citizenship, quietly sang "God Bless America" and expressed his surprise that more than 500 other immigrants were becoming U.S. citizens with him.

For Enrique Ureta, 35, the oath on the Fourth of July brought him full-circle from his personal vow after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — to do whatever he could to serve the United States.

In October, while stationed in Mosul, Iraq, Ureta signed up to become a citizen. On Wednesday, underneath the noonday sun at Seattle Center, the Renton resident who serves in the 70th Regional Readiness Command, 164th Maintenance Company, formally renounced his Philippines citizenship while taking on his new one.

"I want to become part of the political process, especially in these sensitive times," Ureta said, adding that he hopes to vote for politicians who will bring home the troops in a "peaceful" way.

Eight military members made up the 552 immigrants from 82 countries who took their oath of citizenship at Seattle's 23rd annual Fourth of July naturalization ceremony. Former Gov. Gary Locke, Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott, Secretary of State Sam Reed and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels offered inspirational speeches and congratulations.

During his congratulatory address, Locke, the son of immigrants himself, talked not only of the importance of voting, but how U.S. citizens should question politicians. He recalled his mother attending the same naturalization ceremony more than 50 years ago and the pride she had when she took her oath.

"Anyone who is willing to work hard can succeed," said Cantwell. "We come together as Americans because there's more that unites us than divides us."