USCIS to Welcome 58 Children as New U.S. Citizens

By: Christian L, ChaCha M & Xavier D

 

Chicago—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Supervisory Immigration Services Officer Maribel Cabrera will administer the Oath of Allegiance to 58 children who are now citizens during a Halloween- themed citizenship ceremony at the USCIS Chicago Field Office on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.

Officer Cabrera will administer a special Oath of Allegiance to 58 children, presenting them with certificates of citizenship recognizing and celebrating their citizenship, which is derived through their naturalized parents. For this Halloween-themed ceremony, the children are encouraged to come in costume and will be greeted by USCIS staff in costume.

The children, ranging in age from 3 to 19, originate from the following 31 countries: Albania, Burma, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Bulgaria, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote. During fiscal year 2016, over 750,000 immigrants were naturalized nationwide.

USCIS encourages new citizens and guests to share their naturalization ceremony experiences and photos through social media, using the hashtag #newUScitizen. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and Instagram (@uscis).

Happy Halloween!

Christian Leighton (in green camouflage morph suit) went trick or treating with friends Noah and Miah Cartagena, Mateo Brandon and Julianna and Olivia Renteria for their Halloween night.

Happy Halloween from the Rivas Kids: David – Darth Vader; Isabella – Mermaid Princess; Nichole – Captain America; Rafael – Storm Trooper

Bata Columnist Xavier “X” Divinagracia wearing a Halloween costume LEGO Ninjango/Zane the Ice Ninja.

Ten months old “Batman Kid” Ellysa-Beth Molina enjoys the “Batman-inspired” birthday celebration of her Big Brother Markus’ third birthday last November 4th. They are the kids of my nephew Christopher Molina and Fiona M. Forrest, in Brisbane, Australia! (Lola Elsie Sy-Niebar)

Goodbye, summer, siblings Maya & Christian Leighton with cousin Olivia at last dip at the Pavilion’s indoor pool.

Maya Leighton proudly showing her cross country shirts showing “Mexico” & “Philippines”, her ethnic descent.