Local

More than a dozen people become U.S. citizens in Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. — In a middle school gym filled with cheering students, 17 people from 12 countries took the oath to become American citizens.

“I’m happy to be citizen,” said Rahmo Hajiyusuf after taking the oath at Meeker Middle School.

Hajiyusuf and her husband are from one of the countries subject to a presidential travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. She says her road to citizenship was a long one.

“2001, so 15 years,” Hajiyusuf said. “My kids they’re all born here and they’re citizens of America.”

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, herself born in Korea to an American father in the military and Korean mother, spoke at the ceremony. Strickland touched on immigration and other issues raised by the election of President Donald Trump but never mention the president by name, as she addressed the new citizens.

“Please get your news from credible sources where people actually do research and check sources,” Strickland asked the crowd. “Please volunteer in your communities when you can. And please get to know people and show them the beauty of immigrants in our country.”

Hajiyusuf's husband has been a citizen for several years. He says he hopes more people from his former country will come to the United States, saying he believes they are not coming here to harm Americans, but join them.

“I hope they come here for peaceful opportunity,” said Abdukdir Elmi.