The United Nations estimates that more than 45 million people worldwide are refugees.
For most of his life, Awadh Alsrya was a refugee. He was never a citizen of any country. Now, he finally has a place to call his home.
Alsrya became a citizen of the United States last month on July 4, American Independence Day. It was then that he, his two sons and 80 other people took the oath of citizenship at a ceremony in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Alsrya waited more than half a century before becoming a U.S. citizen.
"When I passed my (citizenship) test, I cried because this was my dream for 58 years. It was a long time. I was waiting, waiting, waiting, and waiting."
Awadh Alsrya was born in Iraq. His parents were Palestinian refugees.
Before coming to the United States, Alsrya and his family lived in Baghdad. There, he operated a successful grocery business with an Iraqi partner.
In 2003, the United States and its allies launched a military campaign to disarm Iraq. The U.S.-Iraq War was followed by outbreaks of sectarian violence.
"Every day when I open my door, I see dead bodies in the street. When I go to my store, I see dead bodies in the street. This is not life."
When Alsrya’s business partner was shot and killed, and his wife was shot in the shoulder, the family got their belongings and left Baghdad.
"I closed everything. I don't need anything. I lost all my money, all my businesses. I only wanted to save my sons and my family to leave because I thought one day, one month, my sons might get killed."
He and his family came to the United States six years ago through the State Department's refugee program. They resettled in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"Believe me, the first day when I came to America, I don't know what happened from my body, I just felt this is my country."
Now, Alsrya works in a grocery store, which is similar to his former business in Iraq. His youngest son also has a part-time job there.
"I like this job. I want to give (back) America because she gave me a citizenship. I want to give her more. Until now for six years, I didn't take a vacation..."
Since becoming U.S. citizens, he and his sons have requested passports for the first time in their lives.
"May my God give me more time to live. I will give back America more, more, more, more because America helped make my dream come true."
I’m Marsha James.
VOA’s June Soh reported this story from Charlottesville, Virginia. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. Her story also has information from an Associated Press report. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
oath – n. a formal and serious promise to do something
outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease
sectarian – adj. relating to religious or political sects and the difference between them
grocery – n. food sold at a store
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