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What’s New in Operations and Events...
102 New Americans Take the Oath of Citizenship on Ellis Island.
USCIS Director Eduardo Aguirre administered the Oath of Allegiance to 102 new U.S. citizens, from 44 different countries around the world, on Ellis Island in New York City on September 17th, 2004. The event was in recognition of Citizenship Day. More than 20,000 new Americans were sworn-in during special Citizenship Day ceremonies around the nation. Each year, USCIS welcomes more than 450,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States. That number includes more than 8,000 service members who have naturalized through an expedited process stemming from their involvement in the war on terrorism. |
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Candidates for citizenship take a ferry to Ellis Island for naturalization.
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Candidates for citizenship celebrate becoming an American on a ferry to Ellis Island.
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Corporal Marcus Forvil waits for the citizenship ceremony on Ellis Island to begin.
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Color Guards begin the citizenship ceremony on Ellis Island.
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Alfonso Aguilar, Chief of the Office of Citizenship at USCIS offers congratulatory remarks.
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Eduardo Aguirre, Director of USCIS offers congratulatory remarks and administers the Oath of Allegiance.
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Candidates for citizenship take the Oath of Allegiance and become U.S. citizens.
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Guillermo Linares, Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs of the NYC Mayor's Office leads the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Families show support at the Ellis Island citizenship ceremony.
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New citizens celebrate after their naturalization ceremony.
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Faces Of America: Citizen Soldier Staff Sergeant Hilbert Caesar United States Army.
Four service members were among 34 immigrants who became U.S. citizens in Arlington, Va., August 3rd, 2004. Among them was Army Staff Sgt. Hilbert Caesar, whose story is profiled in a new
Faces of America. |
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Army Staff Sgt. Hilbert Caesar, a native of Guyana and now an official U.S. citizen, chats with another new citizen after ceremonies at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Arlington, Va. Caesar, who lost his right leg during an improvised explosive device attack in Iraq on April 12, 2004, was one of four service members to receive their citizenship. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Public Affairs.
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Eduardo Aguirre, Jr. Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services congratulates Army Spc. Johanna Abreu, of Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy, on becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen during ceremonies in Arlington. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Public Affairs.
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United States service members raise their right hand while reciting the Oath of Allegiance during ceremonies at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office in Arlington. Four service members became naturalized citizens during the ceremony. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Public Affairs.
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4th of July celebrations welcome more than 16,000 new American citizens. Ceremonies highlight "Citizenship: The American Dream in Action."
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Members of the United States Navy Honor Guard stand with the United States Flag and the Department of Homeland Security Flag during a naturalization ceremony held on Thursday, July 1, 2004 at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Two-hundred new Americans representing 49 countries were sworn-in during the ceremony.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Eduardo Aguirre addresses citizenship candidates, family members and guests during a naturalization ceremony held on Thursday, July 1, 2004 at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. The 200 new Americans sworn-in at the Chicago ceremony were part of 16,000 new citizens welcomed during July 4th USCIS naturalization ceremonies across the country.
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This year, more than 8,000 military service members have become U.S. citizens. Here a Seaman from the United States Navy recites the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony held on Thursday, July 1, 2004 at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Two-hundred new Americans representing 49 countries were sworn-in during the ceremony.
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USCIS Director Eduardo Aguirre addressed the media following the naturalization of 200 new citizens at a ceremony held on Thursday, July 1, 2004 at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. The 200 new Americans sworn-in at the Chicago ceremony were part of 16,000 new citizens welcomed during July 4th USCIS naturalization ceremonies across the country.
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25 Adopted Children Celebrate Citizenship at “The Greatest Show on Earth”
Twenty-five children representing 9-countries are now among the newest American citizens. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) held a special ceremony for the newly adopted children at the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus at the DC National Guard Armory, Wednesday April 7th, 2004.
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Children's Citizenship Celebration at the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus.
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The 8th annual ceremony promised and delivered adventure and magic for the children who were recognized individually and by country of origin including: China, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Poland, Vietnam, Russia, South Africa, and The Ukraine.
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Known as an American tradition for children of all ages, “the Greatest Show On Earth” served as an entertaining venue to celebrate the children’s U.S. Citizenship.
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Fort Benning Hosts All-Military Naturalization Ceremony
On Friday, February 27, 2004, nearly 100 active-duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines became U.S. citizens during an all-military naturalization ceremony held at Fort Benning, Georgia. Born in 36 countries, the majority of the service members naturalized today expect to deploy to Iraq and other overseas posts in the coming weeks or have just returned from overseas.
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A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Specialist Christian Salazar of the U.S. Army's 3rd I.D. became a citizen during the special military naturalization ceremony held at Fort Benning, Ga.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Eduardo Aguirre congratulates one of America's newest citizens during the special military naturalization ceremony.
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