KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sixty people from 32 countries gathered at the downtown Kansas City library on Tuesday to officially become U.S. citizens.
Mirza Mazarie, who is from Guatemala, said it was the best day ever.
"I love America,” Mazarie said, “and I have been living here for 19 years. This is my home.”
The new citizen said in her home country, she would not be able to legally marry her wife, Claudia. Now, she can.
"For every immigrant to come here, to become a citizen, to be part of the United States, is a dream come true," Mazarie said.
Hannah Kunze, from the United Kingdom, said she has different reasons for becoming a citizen.
"Part of it was I wanted to be the same nationality as my daughter,” said Kunze, who has lived in the U.S. since 2012, “and having her was kind of the trigger for it.”
But, Kunze said, the ability to vote — “especially [in] local elections” — also played a role in her decision. She said if anyone takes anything out of this day, don't take your right to vote for granted.
Many of the people who became citizens on Tuesday participated in a class the library offers for immigrants who want to go through the process.
More than 60 people are becoming American citizens today at the KC Library. The library started a class that helps people through the naturalization process. More on this story coming up at 4pm on @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/RiTsZ8GPFn
— Jordan Betts (@JordanBettsTV) November 5, 2019
The library held its first naturalization ceremony in November of 2016.
