Naturalization ceremony helps open new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Anchorage

Ten people took an oath of allegiance and became citizens of the U.S. in a ceremony at the James M. Fitzgerald U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Anchorage on Thursday. The naturalization was part of a grand opening celebration of a new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office there.

“Finally,” said Jaabir Khaliif, 24, who said it’s a day he’s been thinking about for years. Khaliif came to Alaska from Somalia in 2016. Other new citizens came to the U.S. from Cameroon, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, South Korea, Nepal, the Philippines, Samoa and Thailand.

The ceremony also recognized Bear Dolbeare, who was sworn in as the new director of the field office. Dolbeare said the office’s new home in the federal building is better designed and streamlined for both the staff and the people they serve. On average, the office receives 40 green card and naturalization applications a day, he said.

“These guys are stellar. They do some amazing work,” Dolbeare said of the 13-member staff in Anchorage.

Marjorie Rockwell, 28, from the Philippines, said she hadn’t been thinking much about the ceremony a couple weeks ago, but was reminded of its importance when she spoke to her family in the Philippines by phone. Her father expressed great pride and joy about her taking the oath, she said.

“I’m very proud of myself that I was able to achieve this, honestly,” she said while wiping away a tear. “Right after this, maybe I will call my dad and sister in the Philippines.”

Khaliif too said he felt overwhelmed, but great. He said he looked forward to the opportunity to travel with a U.S. passport, he said, and perhaps realize the dream of seeing his favorite soccer team — Liverpool — play in the United Kingdom.