How immigrants who just became US citizens plan to vote in the 2024 election

LOS ANGELES -- In nan scenic hills overlooking Los Angeles, 9 immigrants from countries spanning from Lebanon and Germany to Taiwan and Mexico took oaths to go caller American citizens astatine an outdoor naturalization ceremonial pinch nan Hollywood motion successful nan background.

With nan U.S. statesmanlike election accelerated approaching, respective said voting was astatine nan apical of their minds, and they knew who they wanted to triumph nan 2024 election. One female from France astatine nan October ceremonial pulled up nan website to registry to ballot successful California to guarantee she could formed her ballot.

To go a naturalized American citizen, immigrants must unrecorded successful nan United States pinch a greenish paper successful astir cases for 5 years, and walk English and civics tests.

Many said they hoped to recreation pinch an American passport, participate successful governmental life — and supra all, consciousness they're full-fledged members of nan state they emotion and for years person called home.

Chia Hsin Tsai, 33, came to nan United States from Taiwan 11 years to study for her master's degree. She is now a trading head successful nan nutrient manufacture and and applied to go a national successful March, hoping to make charismatic nan measurement she felt astir nan U.S.

She said she would decidedly ballot successful nan upcoming statesmanlike predetermination but declined to opportunity for whom.

“Becoming a portion of nan state that I'm surviving successful makes maine consciousness special,” she said. “I unrecorded successful this country. I tin person a correct to ballot and everything.”

Her boyfriend, Eric Boyce, said seeing her interest astir her visa expiring and moving truthful difficult to prosecute her profession is inspiring.

“She became an American not because she took a test, but because she was present for 11 years and learned everything astir nan U.S.,” he said.

Floriane Turcat, 37, said increasing up successful France, she was inspired by American movies and tv and hoped to 1 time go an actor.

Now, Turcat acts successful movies and connected stage. She lives successful Los Angeles pinch her husband, a web developer.

While she stood successful statement waiting to return her oath, Turcat pulled up nan website to registry to ballot successful California to beryllium judge she would get it done successful clip to formed her ballot successful nan statesmanlike election. She said she wants to ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris complete interest for women’s authorities and reproductive rights, successful particular.

“I want to beryllium portion of nan governmental activity of this country,” Turcat said.“Even though California is simply a Democratic state, I want to beryllium capable to participate and person a sound and authorities that it’s important for me. I want to guidelines for my rights.”

She said she applied to naturalize successful July and was happy nan process was completed quickly capable for her to beryllium capable to registry to vote.

“I’ve ever been fascinated by this country,” said Turcat, who has lived successful nan U.S. for 7 years. “It was nan awesome of state for me. I conscionable loved everything astir it.”

Phoenix De Los Angeles Lopez Daal said he has ever wanted to go an American citizen. He said he believes successful nan country's ideals, including state of speech, state of belief and nan correct to carnivore arms.

He said voting wasn’t a awesome logic to naturalize, but he hopes to beryllium capable to formed a ballot successful nan statesmanlike predetermination for erstwhile President Donald Trump.

The 31-year-old group dresser came to nan U.S. pinch his mother and sister from Venezuela erstwhile he was six years old.

Lopez Daal said he wouldn't registry successful immoderate governmental statement but he feels Democrats person shifted excessively acold to nan governmental near — thing he said he besides saw hap successful his autochthonal country.

“There was a constituent successful clip wherever Venezuela was a awesome country, and nan things nan Democrats are doing are what led to nan downfall of Venezuela. So I wouldn't really want that to beryllium a point here,” he said.

Dennis Beier, a 46-year-old movie shaper from Germany, said he saw nan U.S. arsenic a spot of state and opportunity while increasing up successful Berlin.

He said he hopes he’ll beryllium capable to formed his ballot successful this year’s statesmanlike predetermination for Harris, mostly because of worries related to nan Jan. 6 onslaught connected nan U.S. Capitol.

“I conscionable want to support for illustration this full populist point intact,” Beier said. “And group request to respect erstwhile they lose, that’s portion of it, and if you can’t, past you should not beryllium successful politics.”

Bejer said he has ever liked nan U.S. since he first visited New York successful 2001.

“It was benignant of for illustration a match, I thought, ‘yeah, this is it,’” said Beier, who lives successful Los Angeles.

Beier said he wanted to naturalize to subordinate his American children and his Canadian wife, who precocious became a U.S. citizen. He said he antecedently held disconnected until Germany changed its laws, making it easier to return an further citizenship.

“I’m very happy that yet nan time came,” he said.