US immigration marks Independence Day with citizenship ceremonies
July 03 2009 by Mark Johnstone
Independence Day marks US immigration
More than 50 special naturalisation ceremonies for those who have moved to the US on a US visa are to take place across the US and abroad to mark Independence Day.
Some 6,000 US immigrants who have been living, working or studying in the US are to be granted citizenship at the ceremonies, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Michael Aytes, the acting deputy director of the USCIS, says naturalisation ceremonies are an extremely important part of what the department does. He says, “there is no more important role we have as an agency than to welcome new citizens during naturalisation ceremonies throughout the year …but on the Fourth of July, that role is even more profound as we proudly stand side-by-side with the newest Americans to celebrate our independence together as one family.”
More than 500 service members will win the right to live in the US indefinitely as US citizens at ceremonies taking place in Iraq and the US tomorrow. Liberty Island in New York will host a special ceremony, as will Walt Disney World in Florida, where 1,000 US visa holders will be granted citizenship in an event taking place on 3rd July.
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