CHARLESTON, W.Va.— African native Mamdouh Souleymane is now a U.S. citizen and a West Virginian.
Souleymane, along with 54 other residents from 33 countires, became U.S. citizens Friday at the Naturalization Ceremony held at the Robert C. Byrd Courthouse in Charleston.
Souleymane told the crowd he’s grateful to now be part of an incredible nation. Originally from Niger, but growing up in Saudi Arabia, he moved to West Virginia three years ago when he was matched at Marshall University for his residency position and since then has worked hard to finally become a U.S. citizen.
Souleymane said being at the ceremony was the last step in being able to live the American dream.
“Well, it’s actually, it’s an incredible sensation, it’s an incredible honor. I’m pretty sure, not only me, but all of us, we’ve been longing for this moment, a moment where you become part of a great nation, where you can actually live the American dream,” Souleymane told MetroNews.
The petitioners had their families there. Souleymane said his biggest support was his wife who helped him study for the final exam.
“For me, actually my wife, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her,” Souleymane said. “We met almost nine years ago now, and since then she’s been a source of support for me.”
He said the process of naturalization was a little more difficult than he anticipated.
“It’s not easy to be honest, from all the paperwork, getting the visa to come here and then the green card, and after that taking the exam,” Souleymane said.
And while it was a hard process, he encourages anyone wanting to become a U.S. citizen to follow through with it because the end result is amazing.
“I would say that, keep dreaming, because dreams do come true and it’s a great feeling, it’s going to be worth it, don’t give up, it’s really great to be a part of the sensation once you get there,” Souleymane said.
With his new status as a U.S. citizen, Souleymane will continue his journey with his career in medicine and enjoy his life here in America.
The ceremony meant a lot to Souleymane, but it also meant so much to another new citizen Eliane Tsopmegha, a student at Marshall University. Eliane worked for 10 years to become a citizen, and she can now finally say that she achieved that.
“This ceremony meant actually everything to me, it had been a very difficult process so it’s such a joy and a dream come true to become an American,” Tsopmegha said. “America has blessed me in so many ways and I’m very grateful that God made this day possible.”
She said the United States provides opportunities she wouldn’t have gotten back home in Cameroon.
“People are smart in Cameroon, people are bright, but they have no opportunities, so having this chance to be in America where there’s so many opportunities and be the best that you can,” Tsopmegha said. “It was only obvious that I seized the opportunity and do my best to be everything that I can.”
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who spoke at the event, said that it was an amazing day to welcome these new citizens to this nation.
“It’s a wonderful day to welcome new citizens to the United States, to realize that the roads that they traveled, from India, Philippines, Africa, United Kingdom, everywhere to enjoy the opportunity of the United States but also to give back,” Capito said.
Capito said you could see the excitement that they had on their faces and that you will see many of them go on and contribute amazing things to their communities.
U.S. District Judge Frank Volk presided over Friday’s ceremony.