Northampton County Welcomes 34 New Citizens

34 people fro 21 countries take the oath of allegiance to the United States

Thirty-four people from 21 different countries waited anxiously inside Northampton County's ceremonial courtroom on June 10. Though the Celtic harp music of Carol Thompson was soothing, some of them have had less than ideal relationships in their own countries of origin. But when Judge Emil Giordano walked into the courtroom, the first thing he did was call them "my fellow Americans."  Whether they were originally from Viet Nam or Russia, they are American citizens now. They were naturalized during a stirring ceremony that included a presentation of the colors by the American Legion, a terrific rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Wilson Borough vocalist Leah Kun, and even awards to grade school students who participated in a "My Favorite Place in America Contest."

Liberian native Betty Gaye waves a small American flag. 

When Liberian native Betty Tie Gaye was called the receive her papers, she stood bewildered. Then Judge Giordano took a few steps forward to welcome her into not just the well of the court, but into the giant melting pot known as America. He had good reason. He showed pictures of his father and grandfather, who came to this country from Italy in 1956, looking for a better life. "How brave these people were coming here and not knowing anyone, just like you."

Judge Giordano told these new citizens that his parents met while taking English classes. Though his father has passed away, he invited his mother to the ceremony and introduced his mother. He joked that Naturalization Court is the only time when everyone is happy after it's all over. He encouraged them to keep their cultural traditions. "We bring the best of each culture together," he said.

Rebecca Gelles, with the Daughters of the American Revolution, handed out flags and reminded them all to vote. "Voting is your absolute right and obligation as an American citizen," she said.

Easton Attorney Bill Murphy supported Father Deogratias Rwegasira's quest for citizenship. Originally from Tanzania, Fr. Deogratias is the Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Easton.

Bethlehem resident Marco Lu, who arrived from China 17 years ago, poses with wife Anna, daughter Katie and son Bryan.

New citizen Parmjut Kaur, who arrived from India 15 years ago, with her father, Duman. 

The tall and the small. Dionisia Arienda, who arrived from the Philippines eight years ago, poses with Judge Giordano.

Elizabeth Morales, from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, won an award from the Bar Association for a drawing of "My Favorite Place in America." St. Jane Frances de Chantal cleaned up with three awards to Joseph Karam, Alexandria Nehme and Caelan LaChance.

Dent Helps Georges Jaoudeh Gains U.S. Citizenship

(From L to R – Congressman Dent, Marwan Jaoudeh (son of Georges), Georges B. Jaoudeh and Joe Elias (friend of Georges).

A Lebanese native who spent much of his life has been spent protecting American citizens and diplomats in embassies and consulates in the Middle East, is now a U.S. citizen himself. Bethlehem resident Georges Jaoudeh remained patient as he confronted bureaucratic obstacles, but LV Congressman Charlie Dent still had to push a bill through Congress.

Jaoudeh first began working with Americans in 1986 as Chief of Mission Protective Detail and Firearms Instructor for personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Georges worked at the Beirut Embassy for 17 years – until he decided to move his family to the U.S. in 2004. They promptly began their efforts to become U.S. citizens.

Unfortunately, for Georges, under the rules, individuals who want to become naturalized citizens must maintain a continuous physical presence in the United States for one full year.

Georges’s work stopped him from meeting this requirement. Between 2005 and 2012, Georges shuttled back and forth between America and Iraq. In Iraq, Georges served at the American Embassy in Baghdad, providing protection for Americans and liaising with Iraqi Security Forces.

As an indication of just how important Georges’s work was, both Ryan Crocker (former ambassador to Iraq) and Vincent Battle (former ambassador to Lebanon) wrote glowing testimonials Georges’s behalf. Ambassador Crocker even credited Georges’s work with saving his life. He saw that Georges received a Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award in recognition of his outstanding efforts.

Yet, Georges was no closer to becoming a U.S. citizen. While he was overseas protecting and working with Americans, he was not meeting the residency requirement.

Georges sought out Congressman Dent’s help in 2008. Congressman Dent began making inquiries with the Department of Homeland Security, which refused to waive the residency rule.

A legislative fix was required.

Congressman Dent’s bill, H.R. 6223, passed the House in December of 2012. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee helped usher it through. The bill allowed the Department to recognize employment abroad by the Chief of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, interpreter, or in a security-related position in an executive or managerial capacity, would count towards the one year residency requirement.

The law now exists to help others who might find themselves in Mr. Jaoudeh’s situation.

Georges became an American citizen on June 6, 2013. He now works for the State Department in Diplomatic Security. He continues to protect American citizens and diplomats overseas.

“It was a pleasure helping Georges gain citizenship,” said Congressman Dent. “He has given years of his life protecting Americans in some of the roughest hot-spots in the World. I’m glad I had the chance as his Congressman to help him reach his goal of becoming an American.”

Dent Naturalization Bill Passes U.S. House

Congressman Charlie Dent is no friend to undocumented aliens, but has nevertheless pushed a bill through the U.S House that opens a door to citizenship for those who are serving our country. Here's what his office syas.

Today the U.S. House of Representative adopted H.R.6223, a bill introduced by Congressman Charlie Dent, removing hurdles faced by individuals classified as Legal Permanent Residents who are providing translation, interpretation and security services to the Department of State or at our embassies.

Under existing rules, these dedicated individuals are unable to become naturalized citizens due to the fact that the vital services and duties they are rendering America overseas preclude them from meeting the residency and physical presence requirements of individuals who desire to become citizens. (Individuals who want to become naturalized citizens are required to maintain a continuous physical presence in the United States for one full year.)

Currently, for example, a Legal Permanent Resident, who desires to become an American citizen, but serving at our Embassy in Iraq providing security protection to Department of State personnel would be unable to meet the residency and physical presence requirements necessary for them to realize their goal of citizenship.

“These dedicated individuals are doing America a great service, often under dangerous conditions and in highly volatile environments,” said Congressman Dent.

“As Americans we know it is unfair that people who so greatly wish to become American citizens should be penalized bureaucratically while they are making critical contributions to our country in the war against terrorism across the globe,” said Dent.

The positive impact of Congressman Dent’s bill, should it become law, will certainly be felt by at least one resident of the 15th Congressional District he represents.

George Bou Jaoudeh, from Bethlehem, is a Green Card holder of Lebanese descent. He experienced a disruption of his naturalization process because his work – with the Department of State in Iraq providing security for diplomats – prevented him from maintaining a one-year long continuous presence in The United States. Bou Jaoudeh performed with distinction while in Iraq. Ryan Crocker, our Ambassador at the time, credited the Bethlehem man with saving his life on more than one occasion.

Representative Dent thanked and praised Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the role that Chairman Smith played in helping move the sensible measure through the House. “This could not have been achieved without Chairman Smith’s assistance,” said Congressman Dent. Dent had first introduced this bill in 2010.

For his part, Chairman Smith was glad to be able to help usher this bill through the House:

“I thank Congressman Dent for his work on this bill that honors the legal permanent residents who serve the United States in critical capacities in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world. This important bill makes a common sense change to our immigration laws to facilitate their path to citizenship.”

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) has introduced a companion bill S.3643 in the Senate.

Dent: Americans Who Kill Americans Should Lose Citizenship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Scott Brown (R-MA) and Congressmen Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Jason Altmire (D-PA) yesterday introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would update existing federal law to account for U.S. citizens who engage in terrorist activities, according to a news release from Dent's office.

An existing federal statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1481, identifies seven categories of acts for which U.S. citizens lose their citizenship if they perform one of those acts “with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality.” Under the proposed Enemy Expatriation Act, an eighth category would be added for a person who engages in hostilities or purposefully and materially supports hostilities against the United States.

“The repeated attempts by the now-deceased al Qaeda leader Anwar al Alwaki to recruit other American citizens to strike our homeland demonstrates the necessity of updating our laws to account for an enemy who would subvert our freedoms to attack us,” said Senator Lieberman. “This bill would establish in law a fact that all Americans already know – when an American citizen joins wartime hostilities against the United States, he is also renouncing his citizenship and should not be able to use an American passport as a tool of terror or a shield of self-protection.”

“Individuals who work with terrorist organizations to attack our country and kill our people should lose the privileges of citizenship,” said Senator Brown. “The recent arrest of Rezwan Ferdaus, who was stockpiling advanced weaponry and planning a major attack against our nation’s Capital, highlights the growing problem of home grown terrorism, even in a peaceful community like Ashland, Massachusetts. In future cases, this bill would take away what terrorists have already renounced through their words and actions—the right to call themselves Americans."

“When American citizens like Anwar al-Awlaki incite the violent overthrow of the United States and work within terrorist networks to coordinate attacks against the American people, it is appropriate that the federal government consider their actions a voluntary relinquishment of citizenship,” said Congressman Dent. “This bill modernizes the process by which the citizenship status of an individual engaged in hostiles against the American people is examined by treating terrorists in the same manner as a U.S citizen who marched with the Third Reich, Imperial Japan or the forces of Saddam Hussein.”

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where our own citizens may engage in terrorism against our country,” Congressman Altmire said. “To help meet the challenges we are facing, and to protect our homeland, updates to our current laws are necessary as we continue to fight the global war on terror.”

The same due process that applies to the existing statute will apply to those whose citizenship could be revoked under the proposed amendment to the law. The State Department would make an administrative determination that a U.S. Citizen has indicated his intent to renounce his citizenship by engaging in, or purposefully and materially supporting, hostilities against the United States. That individual would then have the right to appeal that determination to the State Department and, then, to a federal district court.