Hundreds from across Kansas City area sworn in as American citizens on Thursday
Bharat Tailor joined a chorus of hundreds as they sang the national anthem — words that were no longer just a passage to be memorized, but a testament to belonging.
His son Bhavik Tailor’s eyes welled up with tears as he watched his father stand for the anthem, his first as a naturalized citizen of the United States.
On Thursday, 250 people were sworn in as U.S. citizens. It was the first time the ceremony took place at Union Station’s Grand Plaza with officials limiting the number of people out of COVID-19 concerns, said Kristen Smith, director of the local U.S citizenship office.
Sixty-one countries were represented at the swearing in.
U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes and Ramin Cherafat, chair of the KC Chamber board of directors who left Iran for Kansas City in 1979, welcomed the group into the community.
“I’ve seen people immigrate here and have amazing lives,” Cherafat said.
“It’s an exciting time that will present new challenges for you and your families.”
Becoming an American citizen
Bharat Tailor grew up in India and as a teen moved to Zambia, a country near the southern tip of Africa. He worked as a clothing designer before coming to St. Robert, a city two hours from St. Louis, where he has lived for about 10 years with a green card. When that expired, he and his wife decided to start the application process for becoming a citizen.
While the naturalization process takes on average six months, it’s taken a year and a half for Tailor to make his dream a reality. Issues with paperwork and pandemic delays made Thursday’s ceremony long overdue.
On Thursday, Bharat Tailor recited the anthem he had practiced with his family for over a year, his stare remaining fixated on the flag strung to the ceiling of Union Station. And for two-minutes, he was not distracted by the shutters of cameras or the patter of people shopping nearby.
He said he respects every country he has lived in and made a point of learning the culture and national anthems. But since coming to America, he wants to be a part of the community and contribute his voice.
Now 67, Tailor will finally be able to vote, something that he hasn’t been eligible for in his previous homes.
“He’s been unable to be a part of the whole system,” Bhavik Tailor said. “This would be his first ever experience and that’s the biggest privilege.”
‘A long process’
Muhammad Ahmed and Robert Prieto sat next to each other at Thursday’s ceremony in the front row.
As Ahmed listened to the speeches, his eyes glistened from behind his mask.
He moved from Somalia for his safety, leaving some family members behind.
He spent five years waiting to apply for citizenship and six months navigating the process, before receiving his official certificate Thursday.
Prieto also waited five years and then went through six months of paperwork and civic exams.
About a decade ago, Prieto arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela as student. His mom and children are still in Venezuela and he hopes to bring them to the U.S. so they can access a better education.
He met his wife in Springfield and the pair drove nearly four hours to attend the event.
“It’s a long process, but well worth it at the end ... This is a beautiful country and we’re really really lucky to be apart of it,” Prieto said.
