Congressman tells new citizens that America should thank them

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U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, speaks to a gathering of newly naturalized citizens in the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion on Aug. 23, 2024. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

SIOUX FALLS – U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, told a gathering of grateful new American citizens Friday that Americans should be grateful to them.

“I’m not just here to say congratulations and welcome, I’m also here to say thank you,” he said.

During Johnson’s short speech at a naturalization ceremony for about 200 new citizens in the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion, he compared the impact of immigration to the impact of salt.

Johnson said one of his sons loves to salt his green beans.

“He says, ‘Oh, dad, salt is magic. It turns quality green beans into something even better.'”

Salt is essential for life, Johnson added, and has been prized by civilizations throughout history. It’s been the inspiration for trade routes, considered sacred by some religions, and caused wars. “People have viewed it as valuable, powerful and sacred,” he said.

Johnson told the new citizens, “Your hard work, your ingenuity, your decency is taking a quality American dish, and you are making it even better.”

The new Americans came from nations including China, Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico, Canada and others.

Johnson’s words of gratitude were meaningful for Belinda Ponce, who was born in Honduras and came to the United States in 2009 as a 12-year-old.

“It means a lot because it shows that we are being seen,” she said. “They are grateful for immigrants and the work that we have done.”

Ponce said the privilege of citizenship she’s most looking forward to is voting in November.

“It means I get to have a voice in the United States,” she said. “Participate in something big.”

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