Staff Reports
Miguel Rojas did something simple and honorable: he followed the law. The Los Angeles Dodgers infielder used the team’s postseason bye to fly to Miami, sit for his naturalization interview, and — by his account and team reporting — pass the civics and English portions of the U.S. citizenship test. It’s a quiet moment of pride that says more about our country than a thousand hot takes.
Miguel Rojas: travel, test, and pride
Rojas scheduled his appointment to coincide with the Dodgers’ playoff layoff so he wouldn’t miss a game. He boarded a plane, took the interview and the English and civics exam, and told teammates and reporters he passed. He spoke about doing it for his family and how teammates even quizzed him as he studied. That’s the short version: a veteran ballplayer making time to complete the legal steps to join millions of Americans who came here and did the paperwork.
Passing the test is big — but not the last step
Let’s be clear: passing the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview is a major milestone. But it is not the same as having taken the oath of allegiance. After the interview and test, applicants still need final approval from immigration officials and then an oath ceremony before they are officially U.S. citizens. Reporters and fans should celebrate Rojas’s accomplishment while also acknowledging the formal steps that remain.
Why this matters: rule of law and real immigration
Rojas’s choice to follow the legal path makes for an important lesson. Legal immigration means applying, waiting, meeting standards, and learning what it means to be an American. It earns respect. Contrast that with the messy politics around illegal entry and calls for blanket amnesty that treat process as optional. If we care about borders, fairness, and national identity, we should cheer stories like Rojas’s — not because he’s a ballplayer, but because he chose the hard, honest route.
There’s a practical side, too. Rojas is late in his playing career and has hinted at post-playing work with the Dodgers. U.S. citizenship smooths that transition without visa headaches. Beyond paperwork, his trip during the postseason bye is a reminder that patriotism doesn’t always come wrapped in fireworks. Sometimes it looks like studying civics with your teammates and showing up to do it by the book. That should get a little respect from everyone, including those who’d rather politicize immigration than praise someone who followed the rules.
