NEW YORK—In celebration of Presidents Day, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) New York welcomed 100 new citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the New York Historical Society on Tuesday.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer delivered the keynote remarks at the Oath of Allegiance administered by USCIS New York District Director Andrea Quarantillo.
“Today in our city, 40 percent of our population is foreign born. Asians, Latinos, Africans, Eastern Europeans—people from every corner of the world come to every corner of our borough,” said Stringer.
“Our economic, cultural, social, and civic life could not be the same without the immigrant community’s impact on our city,” added Stringer.
“The New York Historical Society is the perfect place to welcome this diverse group of new citizens as they begin this chapter in their personal history and become a part of our collective American history,” said Quarantillo in a news release.
As the immigrants were about to be pronounced as citizens of United States, a video showed greetings from President Barack Obama.
“I am proud to welcome you as a new citizen of this country,” he said.
The crowd erupted into cheers and claps.
After receiving the citizenship certificates, the immigrants waved mini American flags with big smiles on their faces as they exited.
The 100 citizenship candidates came from 35 countries, ranging from Canada and Mexico to Ghana, Haiti, and Egypt. Most immigrants came from Dominican Republic with 21 at the ceremony.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer delivered the keynote remarks at the Oath of Allegiance administered by USCIS New York District Director Andrea Quarantillo.
“Today in our city, 40 percent of our population is foreign born. Asians, Latinos, Africans, Eastern Europeans—people from every corner of the world come to every corner of our borough,” said Stringer.
“Our economic, cultural, social, and civic life could not be the same without the immigrant community’s impact on our city,” added Stringer.
“The New York Historical Society is the perfect place to welcome this diverse group of new citizens as they begin this chapter in their personal history and become a part of our collective American history,” said Quarantillo in a news release.
As the immigrants were about to be pronounced as citizens of United States, a video showed greetings from President Barack Obama.
“I am proud to welcome you as a new citizen of this country,” he said.
The crowd erupted into cheers and claps.
After receiving the citizenship certificates, the immigrants waved mini American flags with big smiles on their faces as they exited.
The 100 citizenship candidates came from 35 countries, ranging from Canada and Mexico to Ghana, Haiti, and Egypt. Most immigrants came from Dominican Republic with 21 at the ceremony.
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