With the media’s focus on illegal immigrants pouring over the U.S.-Mexico border, the 4 million legal immigrants waiting in line for citizenship are often forgotten, but on July 4 many will finally get their day in the spotlight.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it will make almost 7,500 immigrants new citizens in nearly 110 naturalization ceremonies between July 1 and July 5.
What’s more, the events will take place at some of America’s most patriotic sites including Boston’s USS Constitution, New York’s 9/11 grounds, Charlottesville, Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson home of Monticello, and Philadelphia’s Betsy Ross House.
Baseball ⚾️ is the national pastime, and yesterday 23 new U.S. citizens celebrated all we have in common as Americans during their naturalization ceremony. The ceremony was held during a @PawSox game, a farm team of the Boston @RedSox in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. #July4th pic.twitter.com/hZg7naDgOP
— USCIS (@USCIS) July 2, 2019
Independence Day is a typical period for citizenship ceremonies, but this year it has taken on greater importance as the nation fights over illegal immigrants at the border and even patriotic symbols, such as the flag Betsy Ross sewed.
“It is an honor for me to welcome these new United States citizens as we celebrate the 243rd birthday of our nation,” said USCIS Acting Director Cuccinelli, who yesterday addressed 52 immigrants at the site of the twin towers in Manhattan.
It’s a special day in NYC for 52 new U.S. citizens. Today’s ceremony marks the final milestone in the journey toward citizenship. Our ceremony @Sept11Memorial remembered those who lost their lives and honored the strength and resilience of our nation. ?? pic.twitter.com/XnFCMH2Flk
— USCIS (@USCIS) July 2, 2019
“To host a significant event such as a naturalization ceremony on the grounds where the twin towers once stood is a vivid reminder of the resiliency of our nation and of why so many people around the world make sacrifices each day in order to call the United States their new home,” he said.
The State Department estimates that there are 4 million immigrants who are properly seeking legal citizenship in the United States. They often wait in line for years.
Jessica M. Vaughan, the director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, said that they should be respected for following the rules to becoming a U.S. citizen.
“We have a system with rules,” she told Secrets. “The 4 million people on the green card waiting list were sponsored by a family member or an employer, and paid hundreds of dollars in application fees. Sure, our system has flaws, bit it was adopted through our democratic process. It’s a slap in the face to those waiting and their American sponsors to fail to control illegal immigration and to repeatedly enact amnesties,” she added
