‘It’s Nice Here’ : 871 New Americans Are Sworn In

From 60 countries across the globe, men and women came to San Diego to be sworn in as citizens of the United States Friday evening.

The naturalization ceremony for 871 people at the Scottish Rite Temple marked Constitution Day. Normally, about 150 people take the oath of allegiance to the United States each week in San Diego, but the Masonic organization’s annual event helped clear away a backlog that developed over the summer, immigration officials said.

Seated 22 rows deep in the temple’s main auditorium, the citizens-to-be heard a concert of standards by Francis Leonard and his Men of the Rite. They watched a pageant of historical flags and listened to an address by state Sen. Wadie Deddeh (D-Chula Vista).

Most had established their residency by living in the United States at least five years, according to Nelson Ehrlich, an examiner for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The largest numbers came from the Philippines, Mexico and Vietnam, he said.

Previously, the applicants for citizenship had been interviewed to determine their moral character, quizzed on their knowledge of civics and history, and tested for their ability to read and write English.

Finally, about 8:15 p.m., they raised their right hands and repeated the oath administered by U.S. District Judge Rudi Brewster.

Many left families and lifetime homes behind.

Julio Enrile, 74, emigrated from the Philippines five years ago. Four of his children have preceded him; he said Friday that he hoped the other seven would follow him to California.

“I want to live here,” he said. “It’s nice here. Beautiful America.”

A 25-year-old woman nervous about giving her name said she and her parents left Yugoslavia 12 years ago to escape religious persecution. As Yugoslav Nazarenes, they were committed pacifists, and her father spent a decade in prison for refusing to join the army.

“He didn’t want his children to have the same life story he had,” the woman said.

Before they left the temple Friday night, the new citizens would be armed for ideological battle.

From the INS, they received a red, white and blue booklet titled “A Welcome to U.S. Citizenship.” From the Americanism department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, they got a copy of the federal code for handling the flag. From President Reagan was a letter greeting them as new Americans.

For its part, the Scottish Rite provided a book contrasting American freedoms with communism and gave each new citizen a small American flag.

Felicisino Ganac needed no indoctrination. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years before retiring to the Philippines in 1966. Now 62, he returned to make his home here with his son Francis, 15, and daughter Debbie, 16.

All three became American citizens Friday.

“The United States has always been described as the land of opportunity,” Ganac said. “It’s a big country, so the opportunities are much better.”