On September 17th, 2024, for the first time since 2019, Open Doors for Refugees hosted a citizenship ceremony in Madison, joined by five staff from the Milwaukee Office of United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). The colorful event gained gravitas from its location in the main courtroom of the Robert W. Kastenmeier U.S. Courthouse.
Twenty-six individuals from 17 countries took the Oath of Allegiance, and Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson noted that not even many Americans can pass the qualifying citizenship test. Friends and family packed the small viewing area, some having flown in to witness relatives taking their oath.
Shelene Zárate, a singer, actor, and dancer originally from Mexico City, gave new feeling to the Star Spangled Banner, and special guest Bojana Zoric Martinez, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Refugee Programs and herself a refugee from former Yugoslavia, identified with the long road that would-be citizens have to walk.
ODFR co-founder Efrat Livny, an immigrant from Israel, told the group “You’re becoming citizens at a very, very, very important time for our country. We have a challenging election ahead, and you will have the privilege and the responsibility to participate in the most important democratic role, which is voting.”
Presenting a proclamation from Governor Tony Evers, Yuliana Ruiz Márquez echoed those who had experienced the poignancy of their own naturalization events. After the ceremony, new citizens crowded around the League of Women Voters table to register to vote, families snapped photos in front of the U.S. flag and ODFR banner with Judge Peterson, and cameras from WKOW-TV ABC Madison and WISC-TV CBS Madison caught proud reactions.
The undoubted highlight of the reception, however, was refreshments from Iraq, Congo, and Afghanistan baked by Rasha Airubaye, Mwembwe Muhiya, Sifa Lucie Temba, and Bakht Mohammad (Afghan Kabul Cuisine Catering), all themselves resettled Madison refugees.
Kudos to event planners: Erin Conrad (MC), Efrat Livny (Reception), Robin Malicki (Media), Summar Hayek (Graphics), Rae Sowards (Photography), Reem Itani and Madeline Uraneck (Coordination), assisted by Susan Kiernan and Lucy Richards.