Acting Secretary Beers Participates in Special Naturalization Ceremony

For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON— Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers today was joined by White House Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President Danielle Gray and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas to welcome 25 new U.S. citizens at a special naturalization ceremony held at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. This special ceremony was one of more than 180 citizenship events held across the country from Sept. 16 to Sept. 23 to celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

“Today, I can think of no better way to honor the 226^th anniversary of the signing of our Constitution than by swearing in new citizens across the country,” said Acting Secretary Beers. “This valued responsibility is an important reminder of our nation’s strong tradition of welcoming immigrants who come from around the world to seek a better life.”

The United States has a long tradition as a welcoming nation, and the Department of Homeland Security is committed to promoting the lawful immigration process, and the integration of lawful immigrants into American society. Over the past four-and-a-half years, USCIS has naturalized nearly 3 million Americans, including thousands of men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces.

The new citizens naturalized during today’s ceremony hailed from: Bolivia, Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Ghana, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

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