With tears in their eyes, 201 new U.S. citizens sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the student center building at UNT Dallas this month.

Person after person from one of more than 50 countries stood while the crowd clapped and cheered. More than 200 men and women took an oath of allegiance during a citizenship ceremony on Thursday afternoon at the student center building at UNT Dallas.

For some, the journey to U.S. citizenship has taken decades. Others started the process only months ago.

But the naturalization ceremony did more than transform their legal status, according to attendees. It ushered in a profound sense of security and belonging for them and their families.

“It was long for me since I became a permanent resident in 2017,″ said Marcel Stady, from Canada. “Just even having the ability to vote now and just feel more welcome now.”

Representatives from the consulates of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Canada, and Peru, along with various community leaders were in attendance to witness and support the naturalization ceremony.

“This is the biggest ceremony of naturalization that we have held in the university,” said Mara Queiroz Vaughn, a Spanish lecturer at UNT Dallas, who was appointed as one of eight citizenship ambassadors nationwide in 2022.

For some, the journey to U.S. citizenship was fraught with challenges.

Maria Idalia Martinez, from Guanajuato, Mexico, decided to gain her citizenship after spending 20 years as a permanent resident. She said she felt nervous at first but learned to prepare herself for the road ahead.

“I did it for my children and my grandchildren,” she said. “They have their roots here and they are not going back to Mexico. This is their country, and now this is my country, too.”

For Angelica Gonzales, from Mexico, the path to becoming a citizen was hard, battling stereotypes that people like her aren’t educated.

“Racism still exists to this day,” she said. “I think it is a privilege and honor to my family to have me as a citizen now because my parents are really humble.”

In 2017, Queiroz Vaughn and other community members created “Spanish in the Community,” a non-credit class at UNT Dallas, which helps people prepare for the citizenship process.

“We are launching for the first time that the program will become hybrid for those who can’t attend in person because of a job,” Vaughn said. “People can start with the non-credit class as soon as they are eligible for citizenship.”

Organizations such as The National Educational Service Centers, and Proyecto Inmigrante, among others, collaborate with Vaughn to make the classes free for residents.

UNT Dallas offers classes as part of the program to obtain a GED and learn English for professionals.

“For these classes, all that is needed is an identification card and a phone number,” said Vaughn.

In a hospital bed at Baylor University Medical Center, Daniela Fonseca fought for her life.

As a paramedic, she worked to help others.

“That was always Dani. Ever since she was a little girl, she was caring,” said Ana Prado Fonseca.

But the 31-year-old succumbed to injuries after police say another driver failed to help her.

Prado Fonseca said her sister was headed to work on the morning of September 21 when she was hit at the intersection of Carroll and Ross Avenues.

Police said the driver of a silver 2005 Acura MDX with Texas license plate KJN5671 fled.

According to the family, a good Samaritan tried to stop him. But two weeks after Fonseca’s death, police are still searching for the suspect.

“The pain is immense. It’s hard. Especially seeing my mom suffer the way she’s been suffering. It’s really hard to see. My nieces, my nephews, everybody’s in pain. Daniela was very loved. She was the baby of the family,” said Prado Fonseca.

Family said Fonseca worked two jobs to put herself through school. She worked as a paramedic for four years.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

As they continue to grieve, Fonseca’s family is urging the person responsible to do the right thing and turn themselves in.

“My sister doesn’t and didn’t deserve this. She didn’t. I mean, she saved lives. She was a paramedic that was risking her life out there every single day, and for this to happen has been a nightmare,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective J. Keteltas at 214-67103437 or email james.keteltas@dallaspolice.gov. Tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers 24/7 by calling (214) 373-TIPS.