New U.S. citizens achieve freedom

Haojie Liu became a United States citizen yesterday in Arlington, fulfilling a dream that began when she arrived from China on a business trip eight years ago and never returned.

“I just feel my new life starting today,” said Mrs. Liu, 36, who seven years ago married U.S. citizen James Smith. “I’ve been looking for this freedom for eight years.”

Like many others who have become U.S. citizens, her journey has been filled with struggles and setbacks.

Mrs. Liu’s father died one week ago after an extended illness, and she had to choose between returning home to visit him before he died or staying in the U.S. for the citizenship ceremony. She chose to stay in the U.S.

She said her family was “proud” of her.

While seeking asylum in the U.S., Mrs. Liu began taking English classes at Northern Virginia Community College and in 2003 earned a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. She is now an accountant at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

She said one of the biggest differences between China and the U.S. is the access to information on the Internet. In China, Mrs. Liu said, the government uses sophisticated computer software to block access to much of the Internet, including newspapers other than the state-sponsored press.

“In this country, if I want any resource, I can access it,” she said. “But that’s not going to happen in China.”

The newest U.S. citizens, sworn in yesterday on a hazy but pleasant morning, came from Afghanistan, China, El Salvador, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

Phyllis A. Howard, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Washington District, swore in the new citizens at Freedom Park, a downtown plaza in Rosslyn next to the Newseum’s offices that is dedicated to slain journalists and to the fight for freedom around the world.

“There is no better way to truly celebrate our Independence Day than by welcoming our newest Americans,” said Mrs. Howard, wearing a white wide-brim hat with a blue star-studded sash, a red coat and a white dress.

The agency reports that from 1907 to 2003, 22.5 million persons have become naturalized U.S. citizens.

For much of the 20th century, naturalization was below 200,000 people per year.

However, since 1992, naturalization has increased to between 500,000 and 1.4 million people per year.

In 2003, 523,408 persons became naturalized U.S. citizens. Mexico was the leading country of birth that year.

Abdul Quayyun Varyah, 71, came to the U.S. seven years ago from Pakistan to join his son Abdul Varyah, 43, who came here in 1985.

Mr. Varyah, who has a 2-inch-long beard and yesterday wore spectacles and a traditional Pakistani kurta, said he loves the U.S. because of its “freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and human rights.”

Mr. Varyah and his son were headed to a family barbecue in the afternoon.

Jose Antonio Memjivar, 44, became a U.S. citizen after coming from El Salvador in 1989. It took him seven years to become a citizen after becoming a resident in 1998.

“I’m happy, satisfied,” said Mr. Memjivar, whose Vietnamese wife became a U.S. citizen earlier this year. He is a supervisor for a landscaping company in Fairfax.

“I like the freedoms we have to live how we want, to live and do the best you can,” he said. “The kind of government we have here, that’s most important — democracy.”