Staff Writer
Local law student helps smooth out the process
There are two types of tears that can be witnessed in a court of law, those of sadness and those of happiness. The latter was in large supply Thursday at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse as 49 people became U.S. citizens.
Included in the celebration of law that surrounds “Law Day” on May 1 was a naturalization ceremony presided over by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Schlesinger. He welcomed the new citizens and presided over a ceremony that included a speech from a former immigrant which described her journey to the American Dream.
Attorney Crystal Freed told her story of growing up in a small village in the island country of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. She left the Caribbean island with her family when she was in the eighth grade “for a better life.” She explained that citizenship was the key to achieving the “American Dream.”
“America gave me the opportunity to become the first attorney in my family,” said Freed, who attended the ceremony with husband Mike and daughter Sydney, “but I am not unique, because if I can live the American Dream, so can you.”
Freed attributed her pursuit of a law degree to a helpful State Attorney in South Florida, but some of the newest citizens were able to get help locally. The Immigration Law Clinic at Florida Coastal School of Law helps provide immigrants with instructions on how to navigate through the naturalization process. Coastal Law student Andrei Nana was in the same situation as an immigrant from Romania, but he is now a U.S. citizen and offers his time at the clinic.
“Helping at the clinic has been a wonderful experience,” said Nana. “Hearing the stories of how people came to America and what they had to endure. It’s amazing and illustrates how important citizenship is.”
That notion was on display as one of the applicants he assisted received his certificate of citizenship.
“It was a wonderful ceremony and this is a wonderful day,” said Jamshid Alizada, formerly of Azerbaijan. “I’ve been waiting for this day so I can bring my fiancé to America. I can’t wait to bring her here. I’m trying to make a good family life.”
Azerbaijan is bordered by the Caspian Sea, Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia.
The new citizens emigrated from many countries, including Belize, Philippines, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten, Bosnia, Vietnam, Yemen, Albania, Mexico, Bulgaria, Iran, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Brazil, Iraq, Columbia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Korea, Haiti and Venezuela.
The event was sponsored by the Jacksonville Bar Association and organized by ceremony Chair Caroline Emery and Deputy Court Clerk Patricia Morawski.
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