USCIS welcomes new citizens at naturalization ceremony

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed 19 new citizens Monday at Saratoga National Historic Park. The ceremony was also held as a way to celebrate our nation’s 246th birthday.

The 19 citizenship candidates came from 12 different countries, including Afghanistan, Canada, China and Germany.

The ceremony had a good crowd. A couple of people were holding up the American flag.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner was one of the speakers. She says this ceremony is personal for her because she is the granddaughter of immigrants. She was ecstatic to welcome the new citizens to the United States.

Nasir Noori was one of the individuals who became naturalized. He says becoming a U.S. citizen was always a dream of his. He says when he first came to the U.S. five years ago, he didn’t speak any English.

The ceremony was held in person at Saratoga National Historic Park for the first time in two years due to the pandemic.