A recent ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka saw Carlos Wriedt from Mexico, along with his wife, gain US citizenship. They were part of a group of 30 new citizens from 18 different countries who took the oath in front of family members. This marks a milestone for the Wriedts, who have lived in the US for over two decades and operate a translation business in Wichita. Their daughter became a citizen last September.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly highlighted immigrant contributions, stating, "The dreams of immigrants have built in America and continue to inject new energy, new vitality and new strength into our country." Kansas state Representative Tobias Schlingensiepen expressed disappointment with current immigration rhetoric, commenting, "I'm disappointed at the climate and the rhetoric right now," with references to his own naturalization experience 50 years ago.
This ceremony occurred amid ongoing debates over immigration policies from the Trump administration, which included proposals for mass deportations and challenges to birthright citizenship. Judge Rachel Pickering encouraged the new citizens, saying, "You are keeping the American dream alive."
story continues below
Among the new citizens was Jerry Ugbo from Nigeria, who came to the US in 2015 for studies. Now completing training to become a physician's assistant, he rejoices in citizenship alongside his wife, Hannah, and their two young children in Manhattan, Kansas. The Ugbos emphasized the complexities and costs of the legal immigration process, noting the importance yet challenges of navigating it without legal assistance. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
