NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Center for New Americans held their 16th annual July 4th Citizenship Ceremony in Northampton Thursday.
A total of 55 applicants were sworn in as citizens of the United States on the lawn in front of the Hampshire County Courthouse.
“What better day to get naturalized than Independence Day. To get your citizenship on Independence Day is a big deal.”
A big crowd of family, friends and Northampton residents gathered outside the court house to witness the ceremony.
“You see the commitment, you see them show up everyday, studying, you see family members supporting them, quizzing them,” said Harleen Multani, a citizen and immigration paralegal for the Center for New Americans.
From first applying for citizenship, to the interview, to the quiz and finally the ceremony… it can vary in length. For some, the process was longer than others, but now they can all wave the American flag as citizens of the United States.
“I’m happy, like, my family is here supporting me. Super excited, my best friend is the one how motivated me to do this,” said Angely Navarro of the Dominican Republic.
While families were there to support, many new citizens did it for their families. When you become a citizen, your children also gain citizenship.
“I did it for my son and my family,” Marie Forest of Canada.
Many of these new citizens are originally from countries on different continents and becoming a citizen gives you rights and freedoms under the U.S. Constitution.
“I can vote, I can go home to my country anytime,” Esparanza Cudjoe of Ghana.
The applicants represented a total of 31 different countries. It could not have been a more significant day for the ceremony and congratulations to all of the new citizens!
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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