HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - The American dream became a reality 100 times over at a special ceremony in Hialeah, Saturday, and among those who became U.S. citizens was a man whose selfless act likely saved the life of a police officer.
7News cameras captured William Ramirez as he and 99 others took the oath of allegiance at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office in Hialeah.
“Thanks to God, I was able to become a citizen. I love the United States,” said Ramirez through a translator.
The momentous occasion is often an emotional step for those who become citizens, but for Ramirez, that moment came with a special recognition.
“He found himself in the middle of a situation, and he ended up saving the life of a police officer,” said one woman as she addressed the new citizens. “He’s originally from Colombia, and his name is William Ramirez.”
Warm applause greeted the teary-eyed good Samaritan as he stood up and accepted the Miami Fraternal Order of Police’s Unsung Hero Award for his actions in April 2015, when he put himself in harm’s way to help Miami Police Officer Rosny Obas return to his family.
Officials said a man was firing at Obas with a high-powered assault rifle when Ramirez pulled up in his Dodge Caravan, got the officer inside and drove him to safety.
Ramirez described the tense moments. “I was able to tell the officer to get in my car. The suspect started to shoot my car, but I was able to speed away,” he said. “Once we were safe, the cop told another officer that I was his hero, and he thanked me.”
Speaking to 7News in 2015, Obas praised Ramirez’s actions. “He didn’t have to do what he did, especially right now with what’s going on right now in this country, when people are backlashing against officers,” he said.
And on Saturday, that stranger who went the extra mile to help a man in uniform became a new American citizen.
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