Ten Individuals from Ten Different Countries Celebrate Their Naturalization in Anchorage
Jaabir Khaliif could barely contain his excitement as he sat, leg bouncing, waiting for his naturalization ceremony to begin. “It’s all smiles,” Khaliif said, his face beaming. “Everyone’s just happy to be here.” On July 25, in Anchorage, Khaliif joined nine others in celebrating their new status as U.S. citizens. On average, 1,032 people in Alaska become U.S. citizens each year, but for these ten individuals, this day marked a personal milestone.
Khaliif’s journey to Alaska began at sixteen when he followed his mother, a refugee from Somalia and Kenya. While he reminisces about the food and community back home, he acknowledges the dangers that prevent his return. “That’s what Americans do,” Khaliif reflected. “They give you freedom and a new life and everything. So, just grateful to be here.”
While Khaliif’s joy was palpable, Marjorie Rockwell’s emotions were more subdued. “I don’t feel anything,” Rockwell admitted. “You know, I’m kind of just there.” Originally from the Philippines, Rockwell has been in Alaska for five years. She expressed mixed feelings about her new citizenship, tinged with the current political climate’s uncertainties. “Me and my husband were just talking about what’s going on, you know, to the politics,” she said. “That’s why I think I’m kind of hesitant or not really excited to be part of this anymore, because of what’s going on. It’s really sad, the division.”
Despite her reservations, Rockwell’s primary motivation for obtaining citizenship was to facilitate her family’s relocation to the U.S. “My dad and sister miss me a lot, and being in the U.S. will mean more opportunities for her sister’s kid,” she explained.
The ceremony was a poignant moment. Ten Alaskans from ten different countries stood, placed their right hands over their hearts, and recited the Oath of Allegiance in unison. Khaliif couldn’t stop smiling as he repeated the words. Upon concluding with “I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God,” they were officially declared American citizens. The room erupted in applause, and the new citizens waved small American flags, celebrating their new status.
Geoff Rockwell, Marjorie’s husband, captured the moment she held her Certificate of Naturalization. “I’m so happy for her,” said Geoff, a lifelong Alaskan. “This is a huge event in our lives and this is going to lead to a lot of good things in her life and with her family.”
For Khaliif, who has spent more than a third of his life in Alaska, the day was a culmination of years of anticipation. “I’m finally a citizen,” he declared. “Finally can go out of the country, go visit my homeland, maybe go to Europe too.” But there was one more surprise in store. Khaliif had kept his naturalization process a secret from his mother, planning to surprise her with the news. “She knows I applied, but she has no idea that I’ve already gotten my interview and citizenship. She’s going to be so happy for me.”
The naturalization ceremony in Anchorage was more than just a formality; it was a moment of transformation and new beginnings for Khaliif, Rockwell, and their fellow new citizens. Despite the complexities and challenges of their journeys, each individual’s story is a testament to resilience and hope, marking the start of a new chapter in their lives as American citizens.
