Iowa restaurant owner becomes U.S. citizen after 10-year journey

Iowa restaurant owner becomes U.S. citizen after 10-year journey

MARION, Iowa —

A Marion, Iowa, restaurant owner is celebrating a new title: U.S. citizen.

Rehmat Ullah owns New York Gyro in Marion, which he opened in 2020. He came to America in 2016 from his home country of Pakistan on a business visa, KCRG reports.

“When I came to this country, I had nothing, brother, seriously,” Ullah said.

Years of struggle

Ullah held multiple jobs trying to make ends meet. He struggled to make rent and feed himself. He said he also missed the passing of loved ones back home.

“My mom and dad passed away; it’s a very bad day for me not to see them, more than finances,” Ullah said.

That job led him to meet his wife. The two married in 2021. It also led to his next job at Afridi Supply, distributing food containers across the state.

Citizenship news arrives at the restaurant

In August, Ullah learned he was becoming a U.S. citizen, 10 years after first arriving in America. He received the news at New York Gyro.

“I work here, and at 11 o’clock I open my email, and it said congratulation you have become a citizen. I so cried, I so so cried, I can’t control my emotions,” Ullah said.

Ullah officially signed his citizenship paperwork Aug. 24 in Des Moines at the Iowa Cubs baseball field, with his family watching.

He said the freedoms afforded to him from moving to America allowed him to earn his citizenship and grow as a business owner.

“Proud to become a citizen, and this is America Dreams,” Ullah said.