Las Vegan’s dying wish of citizenship granted

Thursday, March 31, 2005 | 11 a.m.

Faik Halilovic, who escaped war in his native Bosnia in the 1990s, had prepared for an examination to become a United States citizen for months, but he became deathly ill with cancer on the way to take the final test.

His dying wish was to become an American.

When Laura Leigon, a comfort care coordinator at a local hospice, heard of Halilovic's plight, she contacted Rep. Shelley Berkley's office. The Democratic congresswoman called Immunization and Naturalization Services in Las Vegas to arrange to grant the dying man's dream of U.S. citizenship.

"It means very much, especially now after the war, to be here," Halilovic said as his friends and family gathered around a hospice bed.

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro came to 30-year-old Halilovic's bedside in the Nathan Adelson Hospice on North Buffalo Drive near Cheyenne Avenue at 5 p.m. Wednesday and administered the oath to become a citizen.

"Thank you very much. God bless the world, God bless America," Halilovich said as John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" played softly from a tape deck amid bouquets of flowers, a cake and soft drinks.

Halilovic seemed overcome by the attention of the judge, the media and his family.

"Words can't describe it," he said, closing his eyes briefly.

"We're proud to have you," Pro said, taking the man's frail hand in his.

"Those who choose to become citizens don't take their rights for granted," Pro said.

"How can I write to President Bush?" Halilovic asked Pro.

The judge said to send a letter to the White House in Washington, D.C. "And he'll get it," Pro said.

"You're going to be an inspiration to many," the judge told the new American citizen.

Halilovic escaped Bosnia when he was 17 years old and went to Germany for six years, his cousin, Nernina Smajic, a porter at Mandalay Bay, said. Halilovic eventually arrived in Las Vegas in March 1997 under an amnesty program offered by President Bill Clinton.

"We have life here, but first is freedom, freedom, freedom," Smajic said. "He is like a brother to me."

Asked if she would ever consider returning to Bosnia although the war ended in 1995, Smajic said, "No, never."

Halilovic learned English and how to deal cards for 21 at the Sahara Hotel.

Smajic's 11-year-old daughter, Sabina, helped translate for Halilovic's mother.

Fazira Halilovic, his mother, cannot speak English, but said with the help of Sabina that Halilovic is her only child. Her husband is still in Bosnia and the family lost their home during the war.

"It was his wish to come here, he loved America and Las Vegas," the mother said.

Halilovic's physician, Dr. Stewart Stein, attended the brief ceremony.

"This literally made his life this afternoon," Stein said.

Every week 70 to 100 foreigners are sworn in as American citizens at the Lloyd George Federal Building in Las Vegas, said Pam Bugbee of Immigration and Naturalization Services.

Halilovic arrived in Las Vegas as a surge of Bosnians arrived in Southern Nevada, Bugbee said. Catholic Social Services helped many of them settle into the community, she said.

First, Halilovic got a work permit so he could secure a Social Security number and a health card.

A year later, he applied for a green card, Bugbee said. Five years later, he applied to become a citizen.

Most Bosnian refugees also signed up for Selective Service, as did Halilovic, so he could have been called to serve in the military, Bugbee said. "They are very patriotic people," she said.

Asked if some people become citizens outside of the Lloyd George Federal Building, Bugbee said that Halilovic was the third person this year who was unable to take the oath in the weekly ceremony on Fridays.