U.S. Attorney Ganjei Gives Remarks at Houston Naturalization Ceremony

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Good morning, my fellow Americans!   It’s a great honor to be the first person to address you in that way. As I look out upon all of you today, I see people of every race, creed, and religion, gathered from all corners of the globe.  And, as different from one another as you all might be—as we might be—we are all nevertheless united…united in our common love for this great country of ours.

Today you become part of the American story, as countless millions of immigrants before you have done. I too am part of that story.

My mother’s parents arrived in America from then-Yugoslavia in 1941, after her siblings had been born, but just before she was born.  She grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, a town of less than 10,000, but the largest city in the western half of the state.  And she moved west, to California, to seek an education.

My father came to the United States from Mashhad, Iran in 1961.  When he came to America, all he had with him was, first, his life savings of a hundred dollars and, second, a deep, abiding faith in the greatness of America and the endless possibilities it afforded.  He arrived, like so many before him, in New York City, but worked his way west, first drying cars at a car wash in El Paso, then as a busboy in Nevada, before working his way towards a college degree in California. It was there that he met my mother.

After ten years of patiently waiting his turn, my father became a citizen in a ceremony just like this.  He took the oath in 1972, more than a decade after arriving in this country.  The president at the time was Richard Nixon.  As President Nixon once remarked at another naturalization ceremony,

We are very privileged that people who were not born in America, who are not Americans by the accident of birth, but people like yourselves who are Americans by choice, from other countries, have come to this land.

And it is that choice—that choice to pursue American citizenship, to join in this grand experiment—that makes all the difference. Many immigrants to America, and perhaps maybe even some of you, come from places that, unfortunately, have not known liberty and have not offered opportunity. When people know what it is like to be deprived of freedom and opportunity, they are not likely to let them go once they get hold of them. They are likely to remember that freedom is a precious and fragile thing, one that must be fiercely defended.  Put another way, they are likely to be grateful for the blessings of liberty.

On that score, we should remember, and ourselves be grateful for, the sacrifices that others made to create this land of freedom and opportunity. In fact, 250 years ago, in April 1775, the first stirrings of the United States began when ordinary people, like you, refused to let their liberties be taken from them. At Lexington and Concord, ordinary people, again like you, stood up and defied the mightiest empire on Earth. And they paid a heavy price for it. For six and one-half years, Americans fought a long, hard, and bloody war at places like Bunker Hill and Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown, to free themselves and to guarantee freedom for their children.  For the next few years, we will be commemorating the 250th anniversary of that struggle, the American Revolution, which is the foundation of our history. And now, it is your history too.

Once the Revolution was over, the Founders turned to the task of building a lasting structure to preserve the liberty they had won. This resulted in the adoption of our Constitution in 1787, which does not grant any rights, but rather recognizes and protects the God-given rights to the freedom of speech, the free exercise of religion, the right to bear arms, the right to be secure in one’s property, and many others. I wish you well in enjoying and making use of those rights. They are part of what makes being an American so very special.

Of course, America is not just about rights. The Constitution and laws of the United States also create obligations and duties of citizenship, which we must all strive to fulfill. You should vote to participate in choosing our leaders. If the opportunity arises, you should serve on a jury to make our justice system as fair as it can be. You should participate in local, state, or national politics, or perhaps even run for office. You should let others know what you think about the issues of the day and listen and respectfully consider the views of others. You should open a business and provide products and services that are needed.  And you should participate in religious, educational, and civic activities that aim to improve the lives of those in your communities.

When some think of the United States, they often think of its material wealth, and indeed that is a great blessing. But the true strength of this country is found in the willingness of its citizens to exercise their rights, fulfill their obligations, and participate in the many facets of our community. And now, it is your community.

I am sure that my father, in 1972, when he took that oath of citizenship, could not have imagined that his own son would some day be on this side of the podium, addressing a group of new Americans, as hopeful and as patriotic as he was on that day, some 53 years ago.  And yet, as improbable as it might be, here we are.

This is more than just my story; it is the American story.  It is your story, and that of your children, and your children’s children.  Most importantly, it is a story that is still being written on the hearts of every American citizen, each and every day.

As I conclude, I’ll repeat the words of President Donald Trump from a naturalization ceremony at the White House in 2019. There he said:

By taking this oath, you have forged a sacred bond with this nation, its traditions, its culture, and its values. This heritage is now yours to protect, promote, and pass down to the next generation and to the next wave of newcomers to our shores. Our history is now your history. Our traditions are now your traditions. And our Constitution is now yours to safeguard, celebrate, and cherish.

So, congratulations to you on this momentous day, and the beginning of your chapter in the American story.  Let me be the first to say to you all…welcome home.

May God bless each and every one of you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.