Federal judge says naturalization grants each ‘freedom to choose your own path’
TOPEKA — Apolina Bahati’s decades-long journey to United States citizenship came to a close Monday at a naturalization ceremony in the marble-enveloped rotunda of the Kansas Capitol.
Bahati left Congo at age 2 for life as a refugee in Tanzania before deciding as an adult to cross the ocean for a chance at permanence in the United States. She lives in Wichita. After the pomp and circumstance, she explained the essence of why she joined 29 other people from more than one-half dozen countries at a ceremony culminating with presenting certificates of citizenship. Her reasoning centered on an activity taken for granted by millions of Americans.
“I want to vote,” she said.
Vayu Gilbert, a Canadian by birth and Kansan by choice, stood several feet from Bahati as the inductees raised their right hand and recited the oath of citizenship administered by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court administrator. Over the years, Gilbert’s father ran a wind energy company and the family spent parts of the year in Kansas. Over time, the 23-year-old Gilbert sensed he was becoming less Canadian and more American.
“I want to set my future here in the United States. I want the rights, privileges and responsibilities of becoming a U.S. citizen,” he said.
‘Choose your own path’
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Chief Judge Dale Somers, Gov. Laura Kelly and David Douglas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Kansas and other Midwest states, collectively presided at the ceremony. The Capitol location was chosen to honor Wednesday’s observance of the 164th anniversary of Kansas statehood.
“We are a country of different cultures and peoples and races gathered together by a desire to do good for ourselves and for others,” Somers said. “This is important. The freedom to choose your own path to accomplish these goals. No one can tell you what you have to believe. You have the freedom to be what you want to be as a person.”
The judge said the oath of citizenship meant that each agreed with principles of the U.S. Constitution and were committed to defending contents of that document just as someone born in this country should.
In addition to Canada and Tanzania, new citizens came from Cuba, Nigeria, Ukraine, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Mexico, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, South Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, Taiwan and Congo.
Douglas, the federal citizenship director, said generations of Kansans chose to be part of America and advanced that objective by applying for federal naturalization.
“Our nation becomes stronger with the addition of new citizens from all over the world,” Douglas said. “America is continually enriched by different languages, cultures, religions and ideas brought here by new citizens.”
‘It takes courage’
Kelly, who had grandparents who immigrated from Ireland and came through Ellis Island, said people who took that plunge required grit, determination and perseverance. The governor also pointed to the Constitution as the vehicle for immigrants to become citizens and make use of valuable rights and freedoms.
“It takes courage to get up and leave everything you’ve known, go to another place, no matter where it is,” the governor said. “Endless possibilities. That’s the foundation on which America is built.”
State Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen of Topeka said the program occurred on the 50th anniversary of the day he joined his mother and siblings in their own citizenship ceremony in Kansas City, Kansas. He immigrated from Germany at age 12, living initially in Michigan. After the death of his father, the family decided to remain in the United States.
Observing people joining ranks of U.S. citizens was emotional, he said, given President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement blitz. Trump campaigned in 2024 on a commitment to increase deportation of people without permission to legally reside in the United States.
“It is very poignant to see this happening at this particular time,” Schlingensiepen said.
Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
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