Like a high school graduation ceremony, every moment Saturday was picture perfect for proud parents like Anoop Kumar of Richfield. For the India native, the moments were particularly special, marking the day his whole family had finally become official U.S. citizens.
New U.S. citizens fulfill dream, embrace future
At a ceremony Saturday at the Mall of America, 102 people raised their right hands and took the oath that made them U.S. citizens.
January 29, 2012 at 2:41AM
His two sons were among 41 teens from 21 countries who shook hands with U.S. Magistrate Judge Tony Leung and received certificates of citizenship Saturday. The public ceremony held at the Mall of America also swore in 61 adults as new citizens.
"It's a way to announce to the world that they're a U.S. citizen," said Sharon Dooley, director of the St. Paul Field Office for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "This is the ultimate benefit we can bestow on people. It is a big deal."
It was also a personal ceremony for Leung, who was in the teens' place 40 years ago. His family moved from Hong Kong to south Minneapolis, opened a chow mein restaurant and helped each of their nine children go on to college, including Yale and New York University for Leung. But he never forgot his past. In his office hangs the naturalization form he received decades ago.
"This is a very special ceremony," he said. "This ceremony is a symbol -- a symbol of welcoming you to America, a symbol that you are now a part of America and all the hopes and dreams of America."
His words resonated with Kumar's sons, Avnish, 18, and Abhay, 15, who moved to Richfield from New Delhi six years ago and aspire to go on to college, perhaps studying computer science at the University of Minnesota. On Saturday, they sported matching black pants, turquoise dress shirts, vests and ties, nervously raising their right hands as Leung read the oath, mouthing the words to the Pledge of Allegiance and taking to the podium one-by-one to say their name and country.
"I'm Avnish Kumar and I'm from India," the older brother said, "... and I love America."
His 12-year-old brother looked on as his father captured every moment on video. His mother took photos from the third-floor rotunda railing, on a short break from her job at a mall salon.
"It's a good feeling," Avnish Kumar said. "It's official; I'm a U.S. citizen now."
After the ceremony, the teens jumped up, first in line to take a photo with Leung, who they said offered them inspiration to work hard. Their younger brother posed with the judge, then their father.
And above, their mother snapped photos from the third floor, a smile evident from afar. Then she turned around and returned to work.
Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141
Watch video highlights from Week 5 of MN high school football in this exclusive video produced by NSPN.tv.
