Two naturalization ceremonies were held Thursday in Chattanooga federal court, not dampened by recent Trump administration deportations, some of which have affected immigrants with legal status in the country.
After a charismatic performance by four members of the Choo Choo Chorus singing the national anthem in barbershop-esque harmony, one after another, the candidates stood to announce their name and home country, listing places from Argentina to Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo to Colombia, Pakistan to China.
The voices, led by presiding U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley, proclaimed their allegiance to the United States by reciting the oath of allegiance.
“I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies,” the chorus of new citizens said in unison.
Chattanooga naturalization ceremony welcomes new citizens
Atchley addressed the crowd, full of the freshly naturalized American citizens and their families with babies and children in tow, congratulating them on their accomplishment and encouraging them to bring the very best of their home countries into the United States and leave the worst behind. The courtroom was so full that latecomers could hardly squeeze through the door.
“You have the absolute right to complain about your government, and I encourage you to do so,” Atchley told the citizens, many of whom came from countries without the absolute freedom of speech. “However, you forfeit that right if you do not vote,” Atchley said, jokingly.
Outside the courtroom doors were tables for the new citizens to register to vote and apply for passports.
Before the candidates were presented with their certificates of citizenship, the Choo Choo Chorus quartet — donning rich blue suits with bright red ties and pocket squares — performed “God Bless America.”
After people had made their way outside the federal courthouse, one of the quartet members congratulated those lingering on the steps taking pictures.
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Maria Guerrero Ortiz and her sister, Maria Solis, from Mexico, were among those on the steps for photo ops. Guerrero Ortiz had just taken the oath of allegiance.
Guerrero Ortiz’s journey to citizenship was a long one, she said, but she would have done it regardless of the difficulty because of her love for the country. Solis translated for her from Spanish to English.
“My grandpa used to say that the land that gives you food for eat, that was your land,” Guerrero Ortiz said. “My grandpa loved the United States.”
She originally came to the United States in 1977, had two children in California, returned to Mexico, and returned to the U.S. to live in 1995.
In December 2021, Guerrero Ortiz was diagnosed with cancer and moved in with Solis in Kingsport, Tennessee. She had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and is now on a chemo pill for her bones, Solis said, and Guerrero Ortiz has two years left of treatment.
Guerrero Ortiz said no matter what happened with her cancer treatments, she was going to gain her citizenship.
“She would have come in a wheelchair, but she would have done it,” Solis said. “She says that she has to do this before she dies. It means that much to her.”
Guerrero Ortiz said that gaining citizenship is as much Solis’ as it is hers because Solis has been there every step of the way, taking her to and from doctor appointments and treatments and to all her citizenship appointments and events, including getting her green card.
“This achievement isn’t just mine, it’s hers (Solis’) because she’s been there for me throughout everything, helping 100%,” Guerrero Oritz said. “And now she has cancer.”
Solis said now she is going to start going through her cancer treatments, and Guerrero Ortiz said she is going to be there for Solis until she can’t anymore.
“She (Guerrero Ortiz) says we’re going to go through this,” Solis said. “This battle is hard. But we are going to do it. We are going to make it. I know we’re going to.”
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.