Beges Duritan Pervaiz’ love story culminated Monday in her U.S. citizenship.

The Filipino woman from Peoria married a man she met online. He has passed away, but she is now a citizen, one of 52 central Illinoisans representing 21 countries participating in a naturalization ceremony at the federal courthouse in Springfield.

“I want my dreams to come true,” she said after the ceremony. “It’s a beautiful country.”

Another new citizen, also a Peorian, has no memory of fleeing Iraq as a small child but feels safe in America.

“This is my home. I grew up here,” said Zahara Abdulahteef, adding she has never returned to Iraq.