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A NEW CITIZEN
Michee Homidas, 35, originally from Haiti, poses with his daughter, Farrah Homidas, and wife, Kettie Alexandre, after becoming a U.S. citizen in Tampa.

TONI L. SANDYS: I photographed this family after the father’s naturalization ceremony on June 27, 2001. I was reminded how much we Americans take for granted. People struggle for years and make sacrifices we can’t even imagine in order to come here and become U.S. citizens. Now we face uncertain times. And still, every day hundreds of people make the decision that America -- not the land of their birth -- will be the country they call home. And that day will be the happiest day of their life.

See related story: The new Americans