JOHNSTON – When Cyrielle Dorsainvil stood to recite the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, it was a proud moment that culminated a long and arduous journey that began in Haiti more than 94 years ago. The Diocese of Providence provided the help she needed to take the final steps of that journey.
The small, fragile woman, dressed in a bright pink suit, joined 35 other new citizens from 16 countries at a naturalization ceremony held recently at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Holding a small American flag in her left hand, Dorsainvil smiled as she carefully recited the oath to protect and defend her new country.
Dorsainvil emigrated to the United States in 1986, to live with her daughter, who is now deceased. The elderly woman didn’t want to return to Haiti, where her other two children also died, because she had no one to care for her. While she’s independent and cooks and cleans her small apartment, she relies on friends from the Jerusalem Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she is a member, to help her keep track of her medication and to take her shopping.
“I wanted to stay here because I love this country,” the elderly woman said with the help of Marc Jean Baptiste, who serves as her interpreter. “I get good care here.”
When Dorsainvil expressed a desire to become a United States citizen several months ago, Jean Baptiste made an appointment for his friend to meet with Stella Carrera, diocesan coordinator of Immigration and Refugee Services. The diocesan office is funded in part by a grant from the Catholic Charity Appeal.
Carrera helped Dorsainvil complete an extensive naturalization application and presented her case to the U.S. Immigration Services. She also obtained a copy of the citizenship examination questions and answers – written in French Creole – that Jean Baptiste used to tutor Dorsainvil so that she could successfully pass the test and become a United States citizen.
“I’m not going to cook today,” Dorsainvil quipped when asked how she would celebrate the important day. “I am going downtown to lunch.”
Also proudly waving an American flag was Moises Sanchez, age 55, who emigrated 12 years ago from Guatemala and now works on a farm, where he plants and harvests flowers and vegetables.
Adam Bergeron, supervisory Immigration Services officer, and acting director of the Providence Field Office, swore in the new citizens. He told them that they were taking “the biggest step in the immigration process.
“Citizenship is the greatest honor we can bestow,” Bergeron told the new citizens and their proud families and friends. He noted that as Americans, they could not only vote, but also seek political office. They could also travel with a U.S. passport, and sponsor family members living abroad who also want to live in this country.
“I can vote now,” Sanchez said. “It’s very important to vote.”
To prepare for the citizenship examination, Sanchez enrolled in a 12-week class offered by the Office of Immigration and Refugee Services.
The class meets twice per week. Sessions offered at the Diocesan Office Building are taught by volunteers from Providence College. The citizenship class is also offered at Project Hope In Pawtucket.
Sanchez emphasized that the class not only prepared him to become an American citizen. His studies about the nation’s history and government will also make him a more informed voter.
According to Carrera, there has been a surge in applicants for citizenship this year.
“People want to be involved in the political process,” she observed. “They want to vote.”
Last year, the office processed more than 100 applications from immigrants who came to Rhode Island mostly from Central America, the Caribbean, West Africa and Southeast Asia.
For more information about citizenship classes or applying to become a U.S. citizen, call the Office of Immigration and Refugee Services at 421-7833, ext. 129.
