1,300 Grateful Immigrants Sworn-In
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS)_ 1,300 new American citizens were sworn in Thursday at Oakland's Paramount Theater.
In a rare twist, one of the guest speakers happens to be the young son of an immigrant couple taking the oath of citizenship.
They are all Americans now, but moments before, they were citizens of 103 different countries. Amos and Talia Baruch emigrated from Israel 12 years ago.
Their 11-year-old Ido placed third in an essay contest sponsored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and by sheer coincidence was selected to read his winning entry on the immigration experience at the very ceremony at which his parents became citizens.
"Over here they have bigger everything; bigger shops, bigger houses, cars, driveways, even the cucumbers are bigger," says Ido.
His father Amos says becoming an American has been a long, hard struggle.
"For the last ten years we've established a home here. I feel excited, grateful, and fortunate to become an American citizen today," says Amos.
Ido's mother Talia had tears of pride in her eyes for her son, more than for her own achievement.
"I got chills. I didn't expect to feel that way," says Talia.
As for 11-yr-old Ido, already a natural born citizen, he says he feels happy because he didnt want to live in Israel, because it's too hot there.
"I feel happy. I just like it here more," says Ido.
