When Dauda Sesay first arrived in the United States — after fleeing civil war in Sierra Leone and spending nearly a decade in a refugee camp — he had no idea he could one day become a citizen. Over time, he was told that if he followed the rules and stayed out of trouble, he could apply. Citizenship, he believed, would grant him protection.

It was this promise — that becoming a naturalised American would create a lasting bond with his new home — that motivated him. With rights such as voting came responsibilities, and, as he made a commitment to the country, he believed the country was making its own commitment to him.

“When I raised my hand and took the oath of allegiance, I did believe that moment the promise that I belonged,” said Sesay, 44, who arrived in Louisiana more than 15 years

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