by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Forty-eight former resident aliens officially became United States citizens Wednesday during a naturalization ceremony at the United States Courthouse at Jacksonville. Senior United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida Harvey Schlesinger presided over the one-hour ceremony that marked the end of a years-long, and often difficult trek for many.
The 48 new citizens represented 21 countries, emigrating to the U.S. from such nations as the Phillipines, the Sudan, India, Israel, Russia and many others.
“It’s a privilege and an honor to extend a sincere and warm welcome,” said Schlesinger, who has been presiding over naturalization ceremonies since 1968. “You entered the courtroom today as subjects of a foreign country and each of you will leave with the title of being an American citizen.”
This year’s ceremony is part of the annual Law Week events scheduled through the May 16 Law Day luncheon.
Schlesinger recognized that many of the new citizens left behind family and friends and a difficult life in search of something better.
“The beauty of this nation is we possess the right to be different and the right of others to respect us,” he said. “Never forget that government exists for the people, not people for the government.”
Thirty-eight of the 48 applicants also applied to have their names changed.
“That’s the largest number of name changes I’ve ever seen,” said Schlesinger.
This year’s youngest and oldest new citizens are Irma Mujkic and Theresa Tegho. Mujkic was born in Bosnia, moved to Germany when she was 5 years old and came to Jacksonville in 1998. She’s 21 years old, is working on her marketing degree at the University of North Florida and is an intern with Madison & Hoyt, a real estate company.
“I am very happy, I am very proud. I get to vote and I can travel,” said Mujkic, adding the citizenship process wasn’t easy. “It was very time-consuming. I had to study a lot and do a lot of paperwork.”
Tegho is 71 years old and was born in Mexico. She visited relatives in the U.S. for years, but immigrated permanently six years ago. She works for the Sleiman Company.
“I think it’s best to be an American,” she said.
The guest speaker was Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in-house counsel Marcio Valladares. A Nicaraguan immigrant, Valladares and his family — after having everything taken from them at the airport — boarded Pan Am flight No. 106, the last commercial flight to leave the civil war torn country in 1971. His family settled in rural Missouri, an area of the country the Valladares family found warm and hospitable.
“America is a land of immigrants, a reflection of the richness and diversity of humanity,” he said. “Never forget where you came from and what you endured to get here. Teach us your cultures.
“With citizenship comes great responsibility. America is the least exclusive club in the world, but it comes with the highest dues. I urge you to vote, become leaders and learn the language.”