New citizens cautioned to guard rights and freedoms

Kenya native Jacqueline Therese Busch receives her flag during the naturalization ceremony at the University of Toledo college of law where 81 immigrants became citizens.

Victor Zolotarev came from the Ukraine to be with family members.

Zorayda Helena Pina came from Colombia because of her husband's work.

Qiu Xian Li moved from China to be with her husband.

The three, along with 78 other people, became U.S. citizens yesterday. Judge Jack Zouhary of U.S. District Court presided over the naturalization ceremony at the University of Toledo college of law.

"Your wait [to become citizens]- however long - has been worth it," he told the 81 people.

Besides, he joked, "Long waits and bureaucratic snafus are part of the American experience, if not the American dream."

Douglas Ray, dean of the college of law, told the crowd it was fitting they were becoming citizens in a law school.

"We are a nation of laws," he said. "Today we celebrate your protection under those laws."

After taking the oath of citizenship and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, the new Americans also heard the famous words by Emma Lazarus that grace the Statue of Liberty - "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Those words are a beacon to immigrants around the world, said Bruce Kennedy, an associate law professor.

They also serve as a reminder to native-born Americans, he said, to not take for granted "the rights, freedoms, and liberties that the rest of the world hungers for."

Mr. Zolotarev said he would not take the freedoms of his new country lightly.

"It's a very special day for me," he said. "A lot of people in the world aim to come to the United States."

Ms. Pina said she was happy to be a citizen after living in the United States for 12 years.

"I feel very grateful to this country," she said. "It has been good to me and my family, too."

Ms. Qiu said after the ceremony, "I'm so happy."

She said she was particularly excited to be able to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Those who were naturalized, listed by their countries of origin are:

Afghanistan - Iman Ahmad Sediqe

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Aleksandar Lucic

Canada - Camille Maia Castillo, Sharmaine Lia Mendoza Castillo, Miroslawa Wanda Gadzala, Rene Mejia Jr., Heena Sumantrai Patel, Wanda Lorraine White

China - Xiuyan Dong, Zhan Gao, Qiu Xian Li, Bo Chuan Wong, Li Zhang

Colombia - John Fredy Munoz, Zorayda Helena Pina

France - Jean-Claude Schmidt

Germany - Tassilo Baeuerle

Ghana - Benjamin Bedford Kodwo Taylor

Guatemala - Maria Elena Nagel

Guinea - Fatoumata Bah Omari

Guyana - Juliet Euphemia McCalman

Hungary - Csaba Jozef Nyiri

India - Gagandeep Brar, Sarma Venkata Subbaraya Kartrapati, Jalander Reddy Kontham, Vanaja Reddy Kontham, Bittu Singh Multani, Govind Chaturbhai Patel, Renuka Govindbhai Patel, Rekha Talla, Uma Jaimini Vora

Iran - Yousef Soleimani

Iraq - Ali Saib Almudallal

Jamaica - Maxine Rose Marie Eason, Raquel Fiona Leith

Jordan - Ala Ahmad Abumalouh, Leyla Wajdi Kublawi

Kenya - Jacqueline Therese Busch

Korea - Insun Choi

Lebanon - Robby Binni

Liberia - Samuel Sumo Payne

Mexico - Carmen Esparza, Karla Osiris Hayes, Juan Pablo Hernandez, David Loredo, Roberto Ramirez Martinez, Ana Patricia Medrano, Oscar Lara Moreno, Beronica Saenz, Juan Antonio Hernandez Sagrero, Joel Cabrera Sandoval, Servando Valdovinos, Osvaldo Jhonatan Sepulveda Villet, Florencia Velassquez Zuniga

Nicaragua - Carrol Sanchez

Nigeria - Olatokunbo Ijilade, Cornelius Nwanze Opara, Mfon Sunday Ubokudom

Pakistan - Shaista Habib, Fatima Badrul Hasan, Syed Badrul Hasan

Panama - Leyla Rosemarie Wilson

Philippines - Engelyne Mata Craft, Gregorio Mendoza Micua, Zenaida Mendoza Micua, John Carlo Mendoza Miranda, Agosto Enricoso Obaob, Shiela Mendoza Obaob, Richardson Enriquez Rodolfo, Cecilia Carpio Yarnell

Russia - Eugene Benjamin Friedman, Nadya Alexandrovna Glushko

South Africa - Mojabeng Esme Kamala

Taiwan - Stephanie Szu I Tseng Rogenski

Turkey - Mustafa Bayram, Steven Mustafa Ozbay

Ukraine - Victor Zolotarev

United Kingdom - Janet Greenberg, Jalpa Rajendrakumar Patel

Venezuela - Nicole Claire Ott Yunis

Yemen - Adnan A Alazizi