Vega-Murrieta bids farewell and welcomes 17 new citizens

The 17 newly naturalized citizens pose for a photo following their naturalization ceremony last Friday at the U.S District Court. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Outgoing U.S. Immigration Services officer Teressa Vega-Murrieta bid adieu to the CNMI even as she welcomed 17 newly naturalized citizens last Friday.

In her final naturalization ceremony in the Commonwealth, Vega-Murrieta said the event was important for her as it was her last in the CNMI. “I will be leaving this beautiful island so I want to thank each and everyone of you…here in this court, it is an honor serving you as a federal employee,” she said.

The new U.S. citizens were Maria Ruby Cruz Acosta, Alfredo Andrada Acosta Jr., Agnes Endaya Camacho, Srinapa Chueasakul Eitz, Rosana Celeste Encio, Ana Lisa Umbao Gallego, Arlyne Galang Guanco, Xiaodan Jiang, Jocelyn Ong Mallari, Yolanda Hernandez Postrado, Ioulia Kim Safer, Christine Anneliese Schroeder, Richard Gorospe Soriano, Ferdinand Reforma Travilla, Tanapon Unsa, Jaime Saiki, and Milagro Saiki.

They were originally from Russia, Germany, China, Thailand, Peru, and the Philippines.

Vega-Murietta did not only give the motion to accept the new citizens; she also served as the group’s guest speaker. She expressed pride for all those who were naturalized last Friday. “I know many of you have been here many years as contract workers, and I know some of the things and situation that you had to endure…you left your home, country and family to have a better life, and to financially support your family back home. I know it is hard, but you have accomplished a goal and you have achieved a lot. You should be very proud of yourselves because I know I am very proud of each one of you.”

Vega-Murrieta encouraged the new citizens to practice their responsibilities as U.S. citizens.

“We who are born in the U.S. often take our liberties for granted. Our attitude is that we are just entitled, but we are not. We need to respect our history and our government and all that it entails. We need to perform our civic duties like serve on a jury if called upon, and if we want to see change, any kind of change, we need to vote [and] exercise that right,” she said.

Vega-Murrieta was born and raised in Texas and started her career in federal service in 1981. In 2012, she was detailed to Saipan temporarily before being assigned permanently in 2016.

“In attaining the greatest honor this country has to give, the honor of U.S. citizenship, we have all won the lottery,” she said.

District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy administered the oath to the new Americans.

Kennedy encouraged the new U.S. citizens to “choose to focus on what we share in common, and celebrate the differences rather than fear the differences among us.”