4th Gets Off to a Banner Start for 560 New Citizens

With San Diego Bay and the sparkling city skyline as a background, 560 immigrants raised their right hands Thursday and took the oath of U.S. citizenship in a pre-Fourth of July naturalization ceremony at Cabrillo National Monument.

The new Americans came from 52 countries and included several men in the Navy and Marines. Moments before U.S. District Judge Judith N. Keep administered the Oath of Allegiance, they saluted smartly or put their hands over their hearts as a Marine band played “Star-Spangled Banner.”

Some responded with tears to the national anthem, and again at the end of the ceremony when they joined in a hearty rendition of “God Bless America.”

For Shyang Kuen Liou and his wife, Shuey Er, the oath represented the realization of a dream that began almost a decade ago in their native Burma. The Lious, both 36, are of Chinese descent and said they decided to flee Burma because of prejudice against Chinese living there.

“The feeling we have now is different from the feelings we had before. Before today, the feeling was of hope that one day we would be American citizens, and afraid that something would happen to not make it possible. But when you finally get that wish, well, it’s a very good feeling. We are Americans now,” Shuey Er said.

Indeed, when former Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin addressed the crowd as “my fellow Americans,” a man of Middle East descent turned to a Latino man seated beside him, thrust his hand forward, smiled and said proudly, “Fellow American.” The two shook hands and embraced as those around them applauded.

Van Deerlin, now a columnist for the San Diego Tribune, quoted Emma Lazarus, the American poet who wrote the following lines that are engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty:

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore ...

“I don’t see many tired and poor here today,” Van Deerlin said, to loud applause. “I’ve seen more wretched types in the House and the Senate . . . You look pretty good to me.”

Also taking the oath Thursday was David Leman, who was born in Canada but has lived in the United States for 11 years. Leman said that his Canadian relatives are evenly split on his decision to become an American citizen.

“I know I’m doing the right thing. I like the feeling of individuality and responsibility of citizens in this country,” said Leman. “Americans fought for their freedom and won. Canadians never did. The Queen ‘gave’ them their freedom. They never fought for it like the Americans did. I like the spirit here.”

Mayor-elect Maureen O’Connor also addressed the crowd and recalled her family’s immigrant roots. O’Connor’s grandfather emigrated to America from Ireland at the turn of the century. While he found work and later died in the coal mines, her father chose to make his living as a prizefighter, O’Connor said, emphasizing that new citizens in this country have the right to follow their own ambitions.

“I’m very proud to stand before you. The daughter of a prizefighter and the granddaughter of a coal miner . . . The first woman mayor of San Diego,” O’Connor said.

Thursday’s ceremony was one of 47 throughout the nation during the Fourth of July weekend, said Immigration and Naturalization Service officials. It was timed to coincide with the opening of Liberty Weekend at Liberty and Ellis islands in New York Harbor.