Woman, 98, First Amnesty Citizen

A 98-year-old woman who moved to the United States in 1927 on Friday became the first person to gain citizenship under the amnesty program allowing aliens to legalize their status.

“It seems like it is not true,” Clara Escobedo de Martinez said in Spanish after the ceremony. “It is so big, it seems like a fairy tale.”

The widow and great-grandmother sat in a chair, raised her hand and took the oath of allegiance to the United States in Spanish from U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela.

“What you’re doing today, Dona Clarita, very much is a heroic event,” Vela said.

A case of nerves overnight sapped some of her strength, Escobedo said. But after it was over she felt strong enough to wave a flag.

A cake inscribed “Congratulations Citizen Clara” and a luncheon held by the Immigration and Naturalization Service awaited her at a hotel near the Mexican border.

INS District Director Jerry Sewell said the reception was his agency’s way of thanking Escobedo for being a public relations agent for the amnesty program.

Escobedo appeared on parade floats and television commercials and helped motivate other aliens to apply under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 that offers legal residency and ultimately citizenship to those able to prove they have lived here illegally since before 1982.

“She is the first person in the United States who applied for amnesty to become a citizen,” Sewell said.

Joining Escobedo in becoming citizens Friday were a 74-year-old daughter, Consuelo Martinez Zarate, and two granddaughters, 47-year-old Rakel Zarate and 44-year-old Genoveva Zarate de Sanchez.

“It has given me new dimensions of my love for this country,” Rakel Zarate said.