People take the oath of citizenship on March 17, 2026, in The Sanctuary Center in Fargo, North Dakota. There were two naturalization ceremonies held that day. (Photo courtesy of Lyn Dockter-Pinnick)
FARGO (North Dakota Monitor) — For Shoaib and Noemi Najam, North Dakota is home — the place where they met, fell in love and are now raising their two children.
Tuesday, they made the Peace Garden State — and the United States — their long-term home by taking an oath of allegiance, completing the yearslong process of becoming U.S. citizens.
They were joined by about 186 other North Dakotans who became U.S. citizens during two ceremonies in Fargo.
The state’s newest citizens immigrated to the United States from 44 countries across six continents, with the largest share coming from Liberia, Mexico, the Philippines and Canada.
Shoaib, who was born in Pakistan before moving to Canada, and Noemi, who is originally from Mexico, met in New Town. Shoaib was living and working there, while Noemi was visiting her brother. After she returned to Mexico, the couple kept in touch and reunited in North Dakota after they got engaged. They now live in Fargo.
“I love North Dakota,” Shoaib said. “It’s peaceful, and the schools are good for our kids.”
The Fargo ceremonies came shortly after the Trump administration scaled back Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement crackdown that brought 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, and particularly the Twin Cities.
Shoaib said these efforts in Minnesota and elsewhere motivated him and Noemi to persevere through the citizenship process.
“We wanted to get this done ASAP, because I couldn’t wait,” Shoaib said. “I hate being one foot here and one foot there. I’d rather both be planted on the same side.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal, who presided over the ceremony, spoke directly to the surge in anti-immigrant sentiments during her speech to the new citizens and their families.
“Amidst the negative publicity about immigrants and our immigration system, you have all overcome many obstacles,” Senechal said. “As you return to your communities throughout North Dakota, continue to show your neighbors that our country is better and stronger because you are here, because you are a part of it.”
New citizens and other immigrants should take pride in their contributions to the United States, said North Dakota first lady Kjersti Armstrong, herself an immigrant from Norway, in her remarks Tuesday.
“There’s something beautiful with this country: you do not have to leave behind who you are to become American,” Armstrong told the crowd. “In fact, America is stronger when we embrace the fullness of who we are. It’s like a patchwork quilt made richer and more vibrant with every thread.”
The ceremonies included a video address from President Donald Trump.
“No matter where you come from, you now share a home and a heritage with some of the most exceptional heroes, legends and patriots to ever walk the face of the Earth,” the president said. “All of the triumphs and glories of American history now belong to you.”
“With this sacred honor comes the highest responsibility … The special American culture is now yours to preserve,” he added. “Your freedoms are now yours to protect. Our entire nation is now yours to love and to help build, and we trust that you will do a fantastic job and make us very, very proud.”
One of those responsibilities is voting, Armstrong said.
“Being American is not simply an entitlement; it’s a responsibility. Live up to that awesome responsibility. Vote,” she said. “Your voice matters. Your stories matter. You matter. From today, you will help shape what America is, and even more importantly, what it can become.”
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe also spoke at the ceremonies to share information on voting.
“We’re the only state in the country without voter registration. All you must do is show up at the polls with the proper identification card, and you’ll be able to cast your ballot,” he said. “I encourage you all to update your ID as soon as you’re able.”
The next election will be the June 9 primaries.
“Two years ago, in the June 2024 primary, 20% of North Dakotans turned out. Put another way, that’s 80% of North Dakota that opted not to have their voice heard. Let’s change that,” he said.
“I would love to see 100% (statewide turnout). But I think we can do 100% (of people) in this room turning out at the June primary election. Let’s all be active participants in democracy,” he added, to cheers from the crowd.
Outside the ceremony hall, Lyn Dockter-Pinnick, secretary of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, passed out voting information to the new citizens as they walked out.
While North Dakotans don’t have to register to vote, Dockter-Pinnick said a recent federal policy barring nongovernmental groups from registering voters at naturalization ceremonies has complicated efforts to prepare new Americans to cast their first ballots in other states.
“By shutting out the League and other civic partners, (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) is making it harder for new citizens to register to vote, which is yet another intimidation tactic and attack on the immigrant community,” wrote Celina Stewart, CEO of the national League of Women Voters, in a press release. “Our democracy is stronger with the voices of new citizens.”
Dockter-Pinnick echoed that sentiment and said that in her experience, newly naturalized Americans are very enthusiastic about voting.
Shaoib Najam called voting “the biggest right you get” and said that he and his wife are very eager to vote in the upcoming election.
Another new American citizen, Elizabeth Gwetang, came to the U.S. 12 years ago as a political asylum seeker from Cameroon. She said she was excited to be an American, and particularly “to go and cast my vote.”
Asked whether she’ll be voting in the June primaries, Gwetang replied, “Oh, yes! I’ll be the first one in line.”
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