{"id":2163,"date":"2026-06-26T18:08:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2163"},"modified":"2026-06-26T18:08:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:08:42","slug":"newly-sworn-in-citizens-eligible-to-vote-exercise-american-ideals-in-south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2163","title":{"rendered":"Newly sworn-in citizens eligible to vote, exercise American ideals in South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

Voting. Democracy. Civic duty. Running for office. American ideals. State and federal judges imparted these defining principles and responsibilities on a group of 26 new Americans, who were sworn in at the federal courthouse in Columbia on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Read more Columbia fire chief sues firefighters\u2019 group for defamation after 2023 death<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe only need to read the newspaper or watch the evening news to know that these freedoms we have in America are not enjoyed in many other places around the world,\u201d U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said before swearing in the soon-to-be citizens. \u201cYou will help nourish these great freedoms by being active citizens in your new land \u2014 registering, voting, participating actively in your religious and civic organizations.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gergel\u2019s words sparked at least one into action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Elena Maria Vitale, a 25-year-old from Italy, stepped outside the courtroom as a full U.S. citizen and headed straight for the booth to her left \u2014 the League of Women Voters, where she got information on how to register for the general election in the fall.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI have to,\u201d Vitale said. \u201cIt\u2019s a duty now, but it\u2019s a right, too. Our path, our trip has brought us to this new beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vitale had been in the final stages of the citizenship process for over a year, after getting a green card in 2019.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With her certificate of citizenship in hand, Vitale won\u2019t have to worry about the outcome of the SAVE Act. President Donald Trump has rekindled debate for the stalled voting bill that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018I was telling your story.\u2019 Emotive film moves new Americans, judges and celebs<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Inside the courtroom, guests, joined by USC basketball coach Dawn Staley and Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, celebrated the moment immigrants took the Oath of Allegiance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sharing his family\u2019s immigration story from Japan to the Hawaiian Islands in 1894, U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit executive James Ishida reminded newly naturalized citizens not to forget the effort it took to take the test and complete the process, something most Americans never have to consider.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cBy telling my family story, I was telling your story, a story that every immigrant that comes to the United States experiences,\u201d Ishida said. \u201cBecause I wanted it to serve as a reminder that as new American citizens, you now have rights, opportunities and responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ishida urged people to vote, run for public office and take advantage of the rights that the U.S. Constitution guarantees.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018It is indescribable.\u2019 South Carolina\u2019s newest US citizens reflect on journey<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let it go to waste,\u201d he said<\/p>\n

<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At a Columbia federal courthouse ceremony, 26 new South Carolina citizens were sworn in as judges and officials urged them to register, vote and engage in civic life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local"],"yoast_head":"\nNewly sworn-in citizens eligible to vote, exercise American ideals in South Carolina - US Moving Experts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=2163\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Newly sworn-in citizens eligible to vote, exercise American ideals in South Carolina - 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