Former first lady Melania Trump made a stop at the National Archives’ naturalization ceremony to speak on the pathway to citizenship, a process she said is tough but worth it.
Mrs. Trump was in attendance to give a speech to 25 new U.S. citizens in Washington Friday.
“For me, reaching the milestone of American citizenship marked the sunrise of certainty,” she said. “At that exact moment, I forever discarded the layer of burden connected with whether I would be able to live in the United States. I hope you’re blanketed with similar feelings of comfort right now.”
She talked about her journey from being born and raised in Slovenia to moving to New York City in 1996. She worked toward getting a worker visa, a process she found challenging.
“My personal experience of traversing the challenges of the immigration process opened my eyes to the harsh realities these people face, including you, who try to become U.S. citizens,” she said.
Obtaining her citizenship made her feel a “tremendous sense of pride and belonging,” she said. She became a citizen in 2006.
“The pathway to citizenship is arduous,” she said, adding that her journey included a “labyrinth of organizing paperwork.”
She applauded and congratulated the 25 new citizens.
“Becoming an American citizen comes with responsibility, it means actively participating in the democratic process and guarding our freedom,” she told them. “It also means leading by example and contributing to our society. It is a life-altering experience that takes time, determination and sometimes even tremendous strength.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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