CHICAGO (AP) – Rohi Atassi was among 117 immigrants to become the newest American citizens during a Chicago naturalization ceremony, but the Syrian dentist stood out among his peers.
The 29-year-old man was unexpectedly asked to lead immigrants from 37 countries in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Federal Judge Sara Ellis, who oversaw Tuesday’s ceremony, asked for a Syrian volunteer after delivering an impassioned speech about the difficulties immigrants face.
While she never specifically mentioned President Donald Trump’s executive order barring immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries including Syria, Atassi said her words resonated with him.
“I’m very happy that a Syrian who just became an American had a chance to lead the pledge,” he said.
He and his family have been on edge the last few weeks as he’s had friends detained at airports because of the executive action, which is undergoing legal challenges. He was left wondering if his citizenship would be approved and questioning how he’d travel. His family members have mixed citizenship status: His mother is a naturalized U.S. citizen, his father has a green card and his fiancee is U.S. born with Syrian roots.