PORTLAND — Favor Kabwe struggled to find the words to describe his feelings after being naturalized as an American citizen.
After a moment, they came to him. “A huge relief,” the 39-year-old Auburn resident said.
Relief, not only for accomplishing a goal he’d been working toward for more than six years. But also because he no longer had to worry about being forced to return to the Congo.
“Finally, I belong here,” said Kabwe, dressed in an impeccable blue suit. “This is my home.”
Kabwe was one of 50 people from 28 countries who officially became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the University of Southern Maine’s Hannaford Hall on Wednesday.
The moment comes during the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, and as overheated rhetoric is driving an increase in political violence, including the killing of a Democratic lawmaker from Minnesota in June and a conservative activist in Utah last week.
It also fell on Constitution Day, which commemorates the document that laid the foundation and values for the country, including the freedoms of speech, religion and peaceful assembly.
Those principles appeared to be on the mind of Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker, who presided over the ceremony.
He described the Constitution as the nation’s “civic compass,” adding that it takes “grit, gratitude and grace” to preserve America’s commitment to freedom.
“Sadly too much of our discourse with each other is unkind or intemperate or worse — we stop talking altogether and other baser instincts take over,” he said, apparently pointing to the current political climate.
Critics warn that Trump’s second term represents a threat to that framework. His administration continues to wrest control of spending from Congress and seeks to consolidate more power in the presidency, including taking over policing in Washington, D.C., and threatening to send National Guard units to Democratic cities to fight crime.
Trump has also threatened to crack down on liberal groups and “hate speech” in response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close friend of the president’s, last week in Utah. Kirk’s suspected shooter is accused of texting a friend that he’d “had enough of his hatred” and that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Later in Wednesday’s ceremony, Walker added: “I encourage you to engage your neighbors and your leaders with humility and remember that while you may disagree with some of your fellow citizens — now listen everyone — they are not your enemies. Abide the truth that we are all in this together if we are to be in it at all.”
LOCAL FEARS
The naturalization at Hannaford Hall occurred about 3 miles from an elementary school where masked immigration agents detained a parent last week after dropping off his child.
The detention struck fear in families and criticism from public officials over agents’ refusal to identify themselves or their agency.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement later said they detained the man for being in the country illegally.
Portland police, which has a policy of not helping ICE conduct immigration enforcement, said they had arrested the man a day earlier on a domestic violence charge and he was released on $100 bail.
Gov. Janet Mills, who attended the ceremony but did not address the crowd, declined to comment on the incident, which has drawn sharp criticism from Portland officials and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, who called on ICE to provide “full accounting” of the arrest.
Neither the detention nor the national climate seemed to dampen the exuberance of those celebrating their new citizenship.
Mills mingled afterward and took photos with new citizens, many of whom were beaming with pride and holding small American flags.
“It always a very emotional and inspiring ceremony,” Mills, who appeared to fight back tears, told the Press Herald.
Jemima Kakese said she was brought to the U.S. from the Congo in 2018 by her parents at the age of 13. She is currently enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of New England.
The 20-year-old Lewiston resident said she also feels a sense of relief after passing the naturalization test and becoming a citizen, allowing her to become a full participant in the great American experiment.
“I can finally feel like I’m OK,” she said.
