Immigrants become citizens in special ceremony at Arches

MOAB — With Utah's redrock desert as a backdrop, and under a radiant blue sky of late September, 24 immigrants who came to the United States under different circumstances became U.S. citizens Thursday.

The naturalization ceremony, which is held each year in Utah, had particular resonance this year, as the future of U.S. immigration policy has become one of the most divisive issues in the state.

But on Thursday, there was little talk of politics at Arches National Park. Instead, those who were sworn in as citizens reflected on what it took to get to America and the future they see for themselves as citizens.

Laura Rodriguez was one of the 24 new citizens naturalized. She said she came to the U.S. when she was 14 years old, crossing the border at Nogales undocumented, along with her mother and another brother. Rodriguez's father was already in the United States. She said it was impossible for them to live apart and wait for the regular process for obtaining the visa.

"For us it was better to pay a fine and stay in the United States undocumented, while we waited for the visa," she said.

Eleven years later, the nursing student at Dixie College raised her hand and vowed to become a U.S. citizen.

Xun Sun and Ling Yu Sun, who are now music professors at Southern Utah University, came to the U.S. on student visas 16 years ago. After graduating, they were offered the opportunity to work, so they decided to stay. Xun Sun is now a conductor of the orchestra at SUU and Ling Yu Sun plays the viola. On Thursday afternoon a special concert at SUU was held in their honor.

"It is a day we've waited for, for a long time. We drove all the way here. We left home at one o'clock in the morning and we are returning as soon as the ceremony ends to celebrate with our students in the concert. We are planing to start it with 'The Star Spangled Banner,'" said Ling Yu Sun with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Citizenship does not happen overnight.

"It's sometimes a long process from when you start your journey in another country. You came here for a million different reasons, each one of you have your own story," said Mary U. Kruger, from the Washington, D.C., office of Homeland Security, during her keynote address.

She also expressed her appreciation and understanding for the immigrant population because her grandfather immigrated from Italy.