54 Become Americans in Time for Thanksgiving : Citizens: The county reinstates its annual naturalization ceremony.

They came from as far away as Zimbabwe and as nearby as Mexico.

One by one, they quietly gathered in the courtyard of the Ventura County Government Center on Wednesday afternoon. Some wanted to fulfill a longtime dream, others came to find a sense of belonging.

In a sunlit ceremony--the county’s first in three years--the 54 men and women from 17 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

Most of the immigrants, all living in Ventura County, have been in the United States for years and until now were unable to become citizens.

Adam and Josefine Lotspeich came to the United States from Germany 33 years ago.

“We tried a couple times to become citizens, but it didn’t work out,” Josefine Lotspeich said. “We wanted to do this long ago. If you live here, you should become a citizen.”

Adam Lotspeich added: “I’m proud. It’s been a long time. Now I have the right to speak up, and now I feel like I belong. It will make Thanksgiving that much better.”

Traditionally, the county held a naturalization ceremony each year. But in 1987, it was cut because of budget restraints.

Last year, the Board of Supervisors suggested that the service be reinstated so immigrants living in Ventura County would not have to travel to Los Angeles to be sworn in as citizens.

Holding the ceremony again in the county is more personal, Supervisor Madge L. Schaefer told the group.

“I know the pride and joy you must be feeling,” Schaefer said. “This is indeed a significant day. Whether people are fleeing from economic or political problems or just wanting to start anew . . . we welcome you with open arms.”

Josephine Rammelkamp, 29, who moved to Moorpark several years ago from the Philippines, said she is proud to be an American.

“Now I have rights,” Rammelkamp said. “Now I can vote. I’m happy to be an American. Nothing is impossible to accomplish here.”

Francisco Rodriguez-Leon, 19, of Oxnard was born in Mexico but has lived in the United States since he was 2.

“Being an American citizen opens a lot of opportunity,” Rodriguez-Leon said. “I’m studying to become an engineer, and I want to live here. If I’m going to live here, I should become a citizen.”

But choosing to become an American citizen was not easy for some, because it meant giving up their native country.

“I didn’t know at first,” said Yolanda Carbone, who married an American and moved here from Mexico 12 years ago. “It’s a big separation. You’re still loyal to the country you’re born in. It took me a long time to want to become a citizen. Now I’m very proud and very happy.”

Before they could become citizens, each of the 54 immigrants had to take a test. For some, it required years of study and an ability to overcome language barriers.

Roy Byron Cooper, who lived in Zimbabwe, said he had to fill out seemingly endless papers and struggle with bureaucratic snarls before he was able to become a citizen.

But he said it was worth it.

“To me, the United States means freedom,” Cooper said. “This has to be the biggest day of my life.”