PAUL LAMISON/STAFF
Rachaid Lachgar, a native of Morocco, was one of more than three dozen people who became American citizens at a naturalization ceremony on Wednesday, Independence Day, at the Ybor City Museum.
By TBO.com
The newly minted citizens, hailing from 21 countries, took part in a naturalization ceremony at the Ybor City Museum – part of more than 4,000 people set to become naturalized citizens this week across the country, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Rachaid Lachgar came from Morocco, Sheila Martin from the Philippines, Zenith Lwin from Burma.
Even though she’s now a U.S. citizen, Lwin – a student at the University of Central Florida in Orlando plans on returning home someday.
“If I become a doctor, I’ll be a doctor of the USA, and I really want to go back home and give,” Lwin said. “So it’ll be good seeing that the country is being helped as well.”
People wanting to become U.S. citizens must meet a number of requirements, which generally include establishing permanent residency in the country by holding a green card for five years, exhibiting good moral character and a having general knowledge of U.S. history and government.
Candidates were quizzed on their knowledge of U.S. history Wednesday. Some questions were easy, such as: “Who was the first president of the United States?” Others were tougher, such as: “Who was the president during World War I?” and “What territory did the U.S. buy from France in 1803?”
Canadian Lorna Ruth Benware had a lot to celebrate on Wednesday. She became a citizen and celebrated two birthdays: her own and that of her adopted country.
“Well, it’s a fantastic birthday, and it’s a fantastic present to be joining the country,” she said.
News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski and Tribune reporter Dave Nicholson contributed to this report.
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