Newly naturalized U.S citizens walk off the field and wave to cheering spectators at Petco Park on Wednesday, August 21. Photo by Hannah Ramirez.

The San Diego Padres weren’t the only ones walking into Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins and expecting a victory. After a years-long process to become naturalized as American citizens, 50 immigrants from 25 different countries celebrated crossing the finish line on the field at Petco Park.

In cooperation with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Dana M. Sawbraw, the chief U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California, and Bernadette Borja, a courtroom deputy, officiated at the the naturalization ceremony.

Upon taking the oath of allegiance, hands and new flags were raised by the applicants to mark their new nationality. Spectators attending the game joined in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem to show their support and cheered the new citizens as they walked off the field.

For many of these new citizens, this was their first time attending a Padres game.

Teresa Saez, an immigrant from Cuba, excitedly walked all the way down to the field knowing her granddaughters would be in attendance to share the moment.

“Coming from where I’m coming from, where we don’t have any freedom of anything, and being here and being an American … I am enjoying 100% everything. I can’t even begin to describe the emotion,” said Saez.

Roshna and Barzy Adam, a married couple who are Kurdish immigrants from Iraq, were among those celebrating. They brought along their two young children to make the ceremony and game a special family memory.

“We have done a ton of different things and adventures alone. This is another,” Barzy said.

(to the left) Roshna Adam and her spouse Barzy Adam are two of 50 immigrants to participate at the naturalization ceremony during the Padres vs Minnesota Twins game on Wednesday, August 21. Barzy carries one of his children while waiting to cross the field. Photo by Hannah Ramirez.

Alena Polischuk, who is Russian, said the ceremony was her dream finally happening, and made even more exciting by being her first time at a Padres game. Her parents flew in from Portland to watch the ceremony, and 10 friends from her Bible study group came for support as well.

Nicole Sabuero, one of the few new citizens who is a longtime San Diegan resident, said that the ceremony happening at a Padres game made her feel special and recognized for the accomplishment. She said that she is the last in her family to naturalize from the Philippines.

Regardless of the final score on Wednesday, the Padres enabled 50 home runs on the field of life.