Sixty-two people were naturalized into the United States during a ceremony in Honolulu Wednesday, becoming the newest citizens to reside in Donald Trump’s America.
“I’m glad I got my citizenship before he changes anything,” said Caroline Nascimento, 47, formerly a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands who has lived in the U.S. since she was a baby.
The sentiment was expressed by several who gave their oath of citizenship at the Mission Memorial Auditorium Wednesday morning. They said they are wary of the America First policy, wall-building and restrictive immigration proposals emerging from the Trump administration.
They also said it’s unfair to single out immigrants and visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries as Trump did in one of his first executive orders. The order — a 90-day ban on immigration from seven majority Muslim countries — has been temporarily blocked in the courts.
Nataliia Kravchuk, a 32-year-old former citizen of Ukraine who now works for the city and county of Honolulu, said Trump’s 90-day ban was a lousy idea.
“I don’t think it will do anything but make a lot of people angry. It’s not necessary,” said Kravchuk, who took the oath with her husband and young daughter in the audience. “People (who aim to create problems here) will just wait 90 days and then come anyway.”
She added: “I’m glad I made my citizenship before he makes any other changes.”
But David Tompkins, a Canadian who lived in Hawaii for 34 years before finally deciding to take the plunge with American citizenship, said he tends to agree with Trump’s effort to be more cautious about letting people into the country.
“If we’re safer, it might be worth it,” Tompkins said. “It’s only three months — not that long. The safer we all are, the better off we are.”
With U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi presiding and First Circuit Court Judge Ed Kubo speaking, Wednesday’s ceremony saw the naturalization of citizens from 17 different countries, from Brazil to Vietnam. More than half — 36 — were from the Philippines.
“Congratulations,” Puglisi said. “You are now adding even more diversity to the most diverse state in the United States.”
Maryann Aguilar, who is expecting to gain her citizenship in a few months, was there to watch her mother, Ofelia Ventura, take the oath.
Aguilar, a former resident of the Philippines who arrived in the U.S. two decades ago, said her family, which includes her husband who is in the U.S. military, is split on Trump.
While there’s a perception by some that America will be safer under the 45th president, she said, there’s also a fear that Trump’s policies will generate discrimination and racial inequity.