Today, 51 people from 24 countries stood under wings of warcraft at the National World War 2 Museum. There they took the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America as its newest citizens.
Oscar Rene Peres Gomez came to the New Orleans area from Honduras just after Hurricane Katrina to help the city rebuild. He’s lived in Gretna for the past 12 years. Eight months ago he started the legal process to become an American citizen.
Now, he’s officially a citizen. . He hopes the process will get easier for other people crossing into the United States along the Texas border.
“I understand why the people try to move to here. I hope so at the end of all this can there be a good decision for our country and our president and get a better situation for everybody, especially the kids.," he said.
Gomez is now 31. He came to the US on a student visa, and stayed. With the help of churches, he managed to work on hurricane rebuilding projects and study for citizenship. Federal Judge Susie Morgan of New Orleans told the group that America’s story is of full of contributions of immigrants, including Alexander Hamilton, Joseph Pulitzer and Irving Berlin.
Immigration Services field office director Stanley Crockett led the pledge of allegiance.
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