Over the past 12 years, Maria Dunia has cycled through a student visa, two work visas and a green card to stay in the United States.
On Friday, with 72 other people gathered at the federal courthouse in Concord, Dunia completed her journey to citizenship when she raised her right hand and pledged to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
Dunia, who came to the U.S. from Venezuela, held up her certificate as she beamed at her husband, who stood on the opposite side of the rail with his cell phone raised in the air to capture the moment.
“It’s really, really exciting,” Dunia said. “It’s been a dream.”
Dunia said she became a citizen because she wants to vote. She’s motivated not by one issue in particular, she said, but “in this world, everything.”
The process to gain that right was a years-long nightmare.
Dunia has navigated the immigration process under three different presidents and four administrations. “Every step has been scary, because politics changes often,” she said.
Tensions surrounding immigration and enforcement are high across the country as the Trump administration has reshaped the legal landscape by suspending visas from some countries and ramping up deportations. The mood in the courtroom Friday morning, though, was made light with music, laughter and applause as Judge Paul Barbadoro swore in the group of 73 people from 35 different countries.
From left to right: Maria Dunia, Dunia’s husband, Bernhard Ruefenacht and Marie Duggan
Photos by Charlotte Matherly / Monitor staff
Barbadoro, a descendant of Italian immigrants, had two pieces of advice for the newest Americans: Adopt the American story as your own, and keep your personal immigration story alive.
“Immigration is one of the great sources of strength in this country, and we need to remind people of that, how important immigrants are to this country’s great success,” Barbadoro said.
Bernhard Ruefenacht, who is Swiss, has lived in the U.S. for more than 25 years and had always told himself “next year, next year, next year” when it came to citizenship. Now, he’s finally gotten around to it — solidifying the community he and his wife, Marie Duggan, have built in Chesterfield by manning a stand at the local farmers market.
“He’s a pretty big part of Chesterfield, New Hampshire,” Duggan said, eyes gleaming as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Bennie’s a baker, and everybody loves his bread.”
Like Dunia and Ruefenacht, Ersela Kamxhiu, who lives in Pembroke, decided to pursue citizenship after more than three years in the U.S. partially because she wants to participate in elections.
“I’d like to have the right to vote, so that’s one of the steps that pushed me,” said Kamxhiu, who came to the U.S. from Albania.
Waiting in line to collect her certificate, she waved a tiny American flag at her husband from across the courtroom.
“It’s just a proud moment, like an achievement, as well,” she said.
