CJ Johnston takes oath for U.S. citizenship

COEUR d’ALENE — This Fourth of July was CJ Johnston’s first as a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

And yes, it felt great.

“I’m pretty excited,” she said.

Johnston recited the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance during an hourlong ceremony on June 8 in Spokane.

Originally from Canada, she’s now proud to be an American citizen and counts it as a blessing.

“When you see how other countries are living, it doesn’t get much better than the U.S.,” she said during a phone interview with The Press.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services held naturalization ceremonies across the United States from July 1 through July 7.

USCIS began to conduct limited naturalization ceremonies in May and began to fully resume ceremonies in early June, after temporarily pausing in-person services to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The ceremonies have been shorter to limit exposure to those in attendance, incorporating social distancing and other safety precautions that protect the health and safety of applicants and USCIS staff.

USCIS has naturalized approximately 64,500 new citizens over the past month and anticipates completing nearly all postponed administrative naturalization ceremonies by the end of July.

“Taking the Oath of Allegiance and embracing U.S. citizenship is a remarkable act of patriotism. We are a stronger nation today because of those who have chosen to become naturalized citizens,” said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow. “I am proud of the USCIS employees who have worked diligently to ensure that our agency can conduct safe, yet meaningful, naturalization ceremonies during these difficult times.”

Johnston, 54, is the director of human resources for Great Floors in Coeur d’Alene.

Her husband, Jason, couldn’t be at the ceremony due to the coronavirus, so he waited across the street at a coffee shop. She wished he could have been there.

“It was a little emotional and you’re standing there all by yourself,” Johnston said.

The paperwork process for citizenship, start to finish, took about a year and a half.

“Pretty nice to make it to the finish line,” she said.

Johnston said the U.S. has been good to her.

“Time for me to give back,” she said.

Canada, Johnston said, is a socialist country.

“The opportunities just aren’t the same there,” she said. “The United States is a country that really prides itself on freedom.”

The recent rioting across the country, the anger being expressed toward it, are disappointing, she said.

“It’s sad to see the uproar against the U.S.,” she said.

If you live in another country, she said, you will develop a sense of appreciation for America.

“A lot of Americans don’t realize how blessed we are to be here and the freedom that we have,” she said.