Hero in Shoe Bombing Terrorist Attack gets Citizenship

According to the Assocated Press Kwame James, who is now 32 assisted in subduing and gaurding a terrorist on his flight from Paris to Miami. In December of 2001 the terrorist, Richard Reid, attempted to light a shoe bomb filled with C-4. Acting quickly James came to the aid of  the flight attendants and other passengers using plastic handcuffs and headphone wires to tie Reid up until they could land.

Assisting in the apprehention and cooperation in testifying against terrorist suspect seemed to favor James filings for citizenship until Reid pleaded guilty, then the government lost interest in helping Kwame become a citizen.  After hearing this story notable immigration attorney Michael Wildes took the case. With Wildes representing him and the assistance of  then Senator Hillary Clinton and Rep. Joe Crowley James was able to get a Visa to play basketball at a Division 1 school here in the US.

As of Thursday April 8th , nearly 10 years later and living in atlanta with his family Kwame James is an offical citizen of the United States. His feelings about the event were summued up with him saying.

“I became a citizen of one of the best countries in the world and I am very happy,” he said Friday, a day after he was sworn in as a citizen in Atlanta. “All the things that people come here for, that’s what I’m here for, the opportunity. You can come from nothing and become something here, just through hard work.”

 It always feels good, to report positive news….