Moroccan Soldier Among 16 at Fort Riley to Gain US Citizenship

Ahmed Amine Bennani is now American. Originally from Morocco, this Fort Riley soldier serving at the Irwin Community Hospital has acquired American citizenship along with 15 other brothers-in-arms from Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and other countries. Following the naturalization procedure was not an easy thing for the Moroccan.

Ahmed Amine Bennani and Veronica Godinez had met in Boston, then got married, reports Dvidshub.net. Originally from Guatemala, his wife became an American citizen four years ago. She helped her partner to carry out the steps to obtain it. "There is too much work, too much paperwork," said Ahmed. "I was lucky that she supported me in all of this, because I’m terrible with paperwork," he added.

The couple recounted that each time a letter from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) arrived, it was anxiety. They worried about what was inside, what they were being asked next. They were able to meet all the conditions and Bennani is now a full-fledged American citizen.

The American citizenship ceremony took place on April 28. For Godinez, her husband’s citizenship ceremony marks the beginning of their American couple’s life. She cannot help but express her joy. "Sometimes, when you come from another country, you feel that it is your country. It’s as if they told you: ’Yes, this is your country’ and no one can let you go. He (Ahmed) fights for his country, works for his country, faces everything for his country, because it is his country now. And now he can proudly say: ’I am American’."