Rep. Malliotakis hosts ceremony for new Americans she helped through citizenship process
For immigrants hoping to become American citizens, the process can be challenging, but the help of a local congress member can make a difference.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), a daughter of immigrants, held a ceremony for a group of new citizens that her office helped through the process, including Anastasia Theofili and Yan Krasnou.
“I’m proud of them. They came here. They followed the rules. They did everything right. They just got stuck in this red tape and bureaucracy,” she said. “They just needed a little push to get over the top, and we were able to help.”
For example, Krasnou — who attended the ceremony with his twin brother, Kyril, and father, Pavel — had an error on his Belarusian birth certificate, Malliotakis’ Constituents Services Director Dawn Clarity said.
The new American, whose brother and sister also recently got their citizenship, said he didn’t feel different after living here for 10 years, currently in South Beach, but that it was a relief to officially be an American. The Krasnou brothers are 18, and said they both hope to become engineers.
On Staten Island, Clarity and another of Malliotakis’ staffers, John Rinaudo, helped most of the new Americans through their citizenship process. Clarity said the office focuses its efforts on priority cases, like people trying to get into college or applying for a job.
“It’s challenging. I have some cases that have been waiting 7 years,” Clarity said. “We’re helping them. I’m happy that we’re able to help these people.”
During the ceremony at Mallitoakis’ Bulls Head office, the attendees received a congressional certificate acknowledging their new citizenship and were treated to snacks and drinks.
Since taking office in January, Malliotakis, whose mother is from Cuba and father is from Greece, and her team have helped 22 New Yorkers become full American citizens.
That’s in addition to World War II veteran Isidore (Teddy) Bertone, 82, who Malliotakis helped secure his citizenship last year when she was a member of the New York Assembly.
“They’re all very passionate about what we do in this office, helping people, and they stick with these cases, and follow up and follow through,” the congresswoman said. “I’m really proud of the team we have.”