For Shawndail McLaren, becoming a United States citizen on Wednesday was about participating in American democracy.
“I’m married. I’ve got two kids,” said the 30-year-old, who left Jamaica a decade ago to study at Purdue University. “I just want to exercise my right to get an opportunity to vote and participate being a citizen.”
McLaren was one of 222 people from 48 countries who took the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Carmel’s Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. The group filled the auditorium floor, buzzing with excitement beneath a glow of red, white and blue lights…