The Uphill Climb to American Citizenship

Under the Trump administration, citizens-to-be face unprecedented obstacles along their path to naturalization. Joseph Mutombo took the oath of citizenship at Monticello’s 64th annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony (Photo courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation). Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. For Chebwa Mutombo, the journey to find a new place to call home has been 22 years long. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the 49-year-old mother of three stood on the grassy West Lawn of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, ground once leveled by the hands of African slaves. She raised her own right hand, and under the baking sun of the Fourth of July, swore allegiance to the United States of America. More We Think You’d Like