Around the League

Newsday: Citizenship Dream Comes True for 240 at Ducks Ballpark

By: John Asbury, Newsday

(Central Islip, N.Y., May 3, 2022) – Growing up in Ukraine, Olha Torska watched American television as a girl and dreamed of becoming a U.S. citizen.

On Tuesday, she realized her dream when she was among 240 Long Islanders sworn in as citizens by federal judges at a naturalization ceremony at the Long Island Ducks’ Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.

Torska, 28, of Copiague, says it hurts to watch her homeland being attacked, though she believes she can do more for her family and friends from abroad, including sending them support and information about the war.

She says she recently applied for citizenship after living in the United States for six years, having applied for a green card at age 18 while in Ukraine.

“The American life seemed so cool and then I came here, I realized what I dreamed of was the same and I was not disappointed,” Torska said. “This is one of my greatest dreams come true.”

Judge Joseph Bianco, of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and judges from the U.S. Eastern District swore in as citizens individuals from 51 countries. Tuesday’s ceremony was held simultaneously with another swearing-in for 250 citizens at the Brooklyn Cyclones ballpark.

Bianco said it was the first outdoor naturalization in Suffolk County, and it was part of Law Day events nationwide to promote a better understanding of legal proceedings.

He says he hopes to bring the ceremony to Long Island schools so “students can witness and feel the inspirational and powerful moment when someone is told, ‘You are now an American’ and tears of joy flow from their eyes. There’s nothing more meaningful than that.”

Immigrants from nations ranging from Afghanistan to Yemen filled two sections along the first baseline while bagpipes played “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” followed by a color guard from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The new citizens raised their hands and took the oath of citizenship, and were then presented with miniature American flags by students from the East Islip Middle School choir.

“My friends, as you sit there now, you are an American. The United States of America is as much your country as it is our country. Don’t ever forget that and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” Bianco told the new citizens and their families. 

Alejandro Del Valle Gorgoy, a Carle Place firefighter, said he had been waiting for more than 15 years to gain his citizenship after immigrating from Cuba to Costa Rica and then to Florida.

He worked as an ambulance EMT in Brentwood and a firefighter paramedic in Carle Place. He said he applied for his citizenship two years ago before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the process.

“I feel like I belong to something for the first time ever and to be an American citizen means freedom of speech and religion,” he said. “It’s a great feeling. A lot of countries don’t have that freedom.”

 

 



Search Archive »




Browse by Year »

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Browse by Month »

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015