Five Years Ago Today I Became An American Citizen

I moved to Miami in 2010 after Port-au-Prince was devastated by the catastrophic earthquake and killed 250,000 Haitians. Ever since I was a child in Haiti, I have always wanted to become an American citizen.

In December 2016, my mentor Paul in Washington, D.C., sent me a text message that he received a letter from immigration for me. At the time, I was in the United Kingdom studying for my Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government, on a full academic scholarship.

Yay! Please open it for me and send me a screenshot!” I responded, literally jumping for joy. When I received the screenshot, I could barely believe my eyes when I read that I needed to go to America the following month for the swearing-in ceremony. Before that week ended, I took out a loan and purchased a ticket back to Washington.

The day I had dreamt of my entire life, the day of my citizenship-oath ceremony finally arrived. Because I didn’t have any family members that could attend the ceremony, two friends insisted that they would attend in support of my accomplishment. One of my American friends even took the day off work and picked me up in his stylish BMW.

As we rode in his car, I expressed my gratitude, “Thank you, brother Ron. It means a lot to me that you took the day off to attend my citizenship ceremony.”

“No need, my brother! It’s your big day! So you will be an American, brother Steeve! I can’t believe it! How does it feel to be an American?” he asked.

“Surreal! Absolutely incredible! I have dreamt of this day my whole life!”

“We are glad to have you in this country, brother Steeve. You are a true American, except you don’t have an American accent. Gotta work on that!”

“What? I am more American than you!”

“Oh no, you didn’t just say that, brother Steeve! More American than me, with your funny French-Haitian accent? I can barely understand you when you speak English! Brother Steeve, don’t make me call immigration on you now!”

“Brother Ron, immigration can’t deport me! I was born an American just like you!”

“Steeve, go sit your butt down somewhere. You were born no American!”

“As far as I know, I am just like you, brother Ron. My dad naturalized before I was born, and technically, I claimed his citizenship, which makes me a natural birthright citizen, just like Senator Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada and ran for president, and just like Senator John McCain, who was born in Panama and ran for president! There is no limitation to what is possible for me as an American in this great country.”

We arrived at the immigration office and brother Ron, who had run for councilman in D.C., turned on the charm, smiling and shaking hands with the security officers. Clearly, he had done this before.

“That’s my brotha, right here! From Haiti, and he is becoming an American today!” brother Ron said with glee, sharing the news with everyone he encountered. His enthusiasm made me smile uncomfortably, yet proudly.

Brother Ron treated me like an official receiving the highest honor in the land, and maybe I was. His enthusiasm was infectious, and as I reflected on the enormity of the situation, I felt as though I had won the lottery—and in one way, I felt I had. There would no longer be any limitations to what I could achieve or who I could help in service to this great and wonderful country. Now I could go on to achieve things I had never thought possible. It was the happiest day of my life—the day I became an American citizen.

The immigration officials made the day even more special by calling each person’s name and announcing their country of origin. The diversity of the room was undoubtedly the United Nations personified—the true melting pot of America, a place that everyone could make their home.

“Today is a special day. Each one of you will become a citizen of this great country today!” an official proclaimed. “People from around the world dream of living in this country, and you have been blessed with this honor. Take it, and make whatever you want out of it!”

Sitting enthusiastically in the front row and wearing my striped blue suit, blue bow tie, and handkerchief, and holding my small American flag, I listened to every word with intensity. I took everything to heart, contemplating all the years it had taken me to obtain this honor and distinction. I thought about how far I had come. I imagined that the future would be brighter with this blessing. I knew that America would now truly be my home.

“As for now, I want you to stand up and repeat these words before the end of the ceremony,” the man said, “at which time I will give you your citizenship certificate.” My heart leaped, and my mind raced with a nervous anticipation I hadn’t felt in years. This was happening! It was really happening!

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Ron didn’t know where to put himself and took pictures nonstop. Even before they called my name, he was already in front taking pictures of me with the immigration officer. After I collected my certificate, he even grabbed the immigration officer and took more pictures of me shaking hands with him.

It was an unforgettable day, and to commemorate it all, brother Ron took my friend and me out for dinner.

A special thanks to my dear friend Ron and all my mentors, friends, and benefactors who have helped me pursue my American Dream. To learn more about my American journey, you can check out my book, Finding Hope in Chaos.