USCIS Welcomes More than 24,000 New Citizens During Fourth of July Celebrations

The USCIS conducted numerous naturalization ceremonies, welcoming more than 24,000 new citizens beginning on June 27 and leading up to July 4th, to commemorate America’s 235th birthday. Eight of the approximate 350 ceremonies were specifically held for members of the U.S. armed forces. The Director of USCIS, Alejandro Mayorkas provided in his remarks that “every Fourth of July, we celebrate our country’s spirit of independence…this spirit, and our founding ideals of freedom and democracy, have allowed us to achieve great success as a nation of immigrants. Immigrants come to America in search of opportunity and, by taking the Oath of Alligence, embrace the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.