At the first naturalization ceremony in the Essex County Superior Court, 34 people from a total of 17 countries became U.S. citizens at a ceremony on Wednesday
NEWARK -- About 30 years since they grew up across the street from each other in India, Manil and Urvi Makhija sat together on Wednesday in the front row of a Newark courtroom.
After getting married and having two sons, the Nutley residents were about to become American citizens.
"It's one of those dream stories," Manil Makhija said.
The couple were among the 34 people from a total of 17 countries who were naturalized as U.S. citizens during a ceremony at the Historic Courthouse in the Essex County Superior Court. The event was the first naturalization ceremony to be held in the county's Superior Court.
With their right hands raised, the new citizens recited the Oath of Allegiance. After they were finished, their family members and friends applauded as many of the new citizens waved tiny American flags in the air.
Following the ceremony, Montclair resident Lizel Persaud said she was excited about becoming a citizen, "because there's a lot of people that wish they were in my place."
"There's a lot of people I know that wanted this," said Persaud, who came to the United States from Guyana with her family five years ago.
"This is like a dream," Persaud added, "come true."
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In addition to India and Guyana, the new citizens were born in Bolivia, Ghana, Portugal, Burkina Faso, St. Kitts-Nevis, China, St. Lucia, Columbia, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Uruguay, Ecuador and Peru.
From those different countries, Essex County Assignment Judge Sallyanne Floria said the group would now become "one nation."
"You have accomplished what your fellow citizens born in the United States will never do," Floria told the new citizens during the ceremony. "You have earned your citizenship through your hard work, your dedication and your courage.
"You enrich our country by your presence, our country, my country and your country," she later added. "You have achieved the American dream and our country is stronger because of it."
But Floria also reminded the group that, along with the rights and privileges of being American citizens, "come duties, responsibilities and the importance of being an active member of our society."
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura and state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) also participated in the ceremony.
For West Orange resident Patricia Gapasin, she wanted to become a U.S. citizen, because her three-year-old daughter was born in the United States and is a citizen.
Gapasin said the ceremony was even more exciting, because her daughter was there. Gapasin said she saw her own mother become a citizen a few years ago, and now her daughter was sharing the moment with her.
"It's a big honor to actually go through with it and actually be a citizen after so many years," said Gapasin, who came to the United States from Bolivia more than 20 years ago when she was a child.
"It's a privilege, because not everyone can do it."
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.