16 take oath as new US citizens

U.S. District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy, seated center in front, Immigration Services Officer Shelia Kelty, seated second from left, front, and American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh, seated extreme left, front, join the 16 new U.S. citizens for a group photo during the naturalization ceremony yesterday. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Brendan Abner F. Venus, 54, became blind right after Super Typhoon Soudelor devastated the CNMI in 2015 because of diabetes and kidney failure. Yet he still managed to keep his focus on his goal of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Yesterday, Venus, who was wearing dark glasses and sat on a wheelchair, joined 15 others in taking his citizenship oath during a naturalization ceremony presided over by U.S. District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy.

“I feel really good. It took me 43 years to become a U.S. citizen,” Venus said, who has four children born on the island. It was his daughter who petitioned him and his wife, Ma. Cristy A. Venus, to become U.S. citizens.

Cristy Venus also took her oath yesterday.

Venus undergoes dialysis treatment thrice a week.

His parents first brought him to Saipan in 1977 when he was only 12 years old. He studied at the Garapan Elementary School and graduated high school at Mt. Carmel School in 1983. Venus then pursued college in the Philippines.

In 1986, Venus was among those given permanent residency in the CNMI.

“When we lost our status in 2009, I applied for that EAD (Employee Authorization Document),” he said.

Venus is thankful to his parents and Duty Free Shoppers president Marian Aldan-Pierce, whom he credits with helping him and his wife get their green cards.

Venus’ parents, Victor and Aida Venus, both 82, became U.S. citizens in 1990.

Before going blind, Venus was known as a basketball referee and an organizer of several basketball tournaments on the island.

For Nina G. Dubovik, 43, a Russian, she is so proud to now be consider part of the American family.

“I want to contribute to make this country greater,” said Dubovik, who, together with Russian husband, Alex, owns the travel agency, Belka Tours.

Dubovik first came to the island in 2002 as a tourist. Belka Tours is now almost 20 years old.

Dubovik used to hold an investor visa, then got a green card. Her husband Alex, who has been on the island for 25 years, is still waiting for his papers to become a citizen.

The Dubovik couple’s two children—3 and 14 years old—were born here.

Another new citizen is Ashebir T. Chekol, 44, a native of Ethiopia, a country in the northeastern part of Africa. He is a physician at the Commonwealth Health Center.

Chekol lived in Maryland for 10 years. He came to the island four months ago to join CHC.

He first obtained his green card 10 years ago, through the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Program. Ethiopian citizens are among those eligible to participate in the program.

Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy, who presided over the ceremony, encouraged the new citizens to register and vote in the CNMI. That would make them potential federal jurors.

Kennedy said that serving as a juror is one of the most important process in the U.S. Judiciary.

American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh, who served as the guest speaker at the ceremony, encouraged the new citizens to help civic non-governmental organizations like the American Red Cross, Karidat Social Services, Salvation Army, Lion’s Club, Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, sports teams, health associations, and others that are all trying to improve the Commonwealth.

“Spend time making our island and ultimately our nation better through community projects and volunteer service,” he said.

Most of the newest citizens are from the Philippines. The rest are from China, Ethiopia, and Russia.

Aside from the Venus couple, Chekol, and Dubovik, the other new citizens are Benjamin F. Donato and Zosima C. Donato, Raul D. Blanca, Jeanette S. Cabrera, Jianqin Z. Che, Amalia B. Harris, Noemi R. Manglona, Anna-Lyn P. Palacios, Ralph T. Surla, Leopoldo U. Valdez, Emily V. Villagomez, and Shirley L. Villanueva.