How Immigrants Who Just Became US Citizens Plan To Vote In 2024 Election

In the scenic hills overlooking Los Angeles, nine immigrants from countries spanning from Lebanon and Germany to Taiwan and Mexico took oaths to become new American citizens at an outdoor naturalisation ceremony with the Hollywood sign in the background.

With the US presidential election fast approaching, several said voting was at the top of their minds, and they knew who they wanted to win the 2024 election. One woman from France at the October ceremony pulled up the website to register to vote in California to ensure she could cast her ballot.

To become a naturalised American citizen, immigrants must live in the United States with a green card in most cases for five years, and pass English and civics tests.

Many said they hoped to travel with an American passport, participate in political life 바카라� and above all, feel they're full-fledged members of the country they love and for years have called home.

Getting the right to vote

Chia Hsin Tsai, 33, came to the United States from Taiwan 11 years to study for her master's degree. She is now a marketing manager in the food industry and and applied to become a citizen in March, hoping to make official the way she felt about the US.

She said she would definitely vote in the upcoming presidential election but declined to say for whom.

바카라�Becoming a part of the country that I'm living in makes me feel special,바카라� she said. 바카라�I live in this country. I can have a right to vote and everything.바카라�

Her boyfriend, Eric Boyce, said seeing her worry about her visa expiring and working so hard to pursue her career is inspiring.

바카라�She became an American not because she took a test, but because she was here for 11 years and learned everything about the US,바카라� he said.

Having a voice

Floriane Turcat, 37, said growing up in France, she was inspired by American movies and television and hoped to one day become an actor.

Now, Turcat acts in movies and on stage. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a web developer.

While she stood in line waiting to take her oath, Turcat pulled up the website to register to vote in California to be sure she would get it done in time to cast her ballot in the presidential election. She said she wants to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over concern for women's rights and reproductive rights, in particular.

바카라�I want to be part of the political movement of this country,바카라� Turcat said.바카라�Even though California is a Democratic state, I want to be able to participate and have a voice and state that it's important for me. I want to stand for my rights.바카라�

She said she applied to naturalise in July and was happy the process was completed quickly enough for her to be able to register to vote.

바카라�I've always been fascinated by this country,바카라� said Turcat, who has lived in the US for seven years. 바카라�It was the symbol of freedom for me. I just loved everything about it.바카라�

Embracing free speech

Phoenix De Los Angeles Lopez Daal said he has always wanted to become an American citizen. He said he believes in the country's ideals, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to bear arms.

He said voting wasn't a major reason to naturalize, but he hopes to be able to cast a ballot in the presidential election for former President Donald Trump.

The 31-year-old set dresser came to the U.S. with his mother and sister from Venezuela when he was six years old.

Lopez Daal said he wouldn't register in any political party but he feels Democrats have shifted too far to the political left 바카라� something he said he also saw happen in his native country.

바카라�There was a point in time where Venezuela was a great country, and the things the Democrats are doing are what led to the downfall of Venezuela. So I wouldn't really want that to be a thing here,바카라� he said.

Protecting democracy

Dennis Beier, a 46-year-old film producer from Germany, said he saw the US as a place of freedom and opportunity while growing up in Berlin.

He said he hopes he'll be able to cast his ballot in this year's presidential election for Harris, largely because of worries related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

바카라�I just want to keep like this whole democracy thing intact,바카라� Beier said. 바카라�And people need to respect when they lose, that's part of it, and if you can't, then you should not be in politics.바카라�

Bejer said he has always liked the US since he first visited New York in 2001.

바카라�It was kind of like a match, I thought, 'yeah, this is it',바카라� said Beier, who lives in Los Angeles.

Beier said he wanted to naturalise to join his American children and his Canadian wife, who recently became a US citizen. He said he previously held off until Germany changed its laws, making it easier to take an additional citizenship.

바카라�I'm very happy that finally the day came,바카라� he said.