SAN ANGELO, TX – Sixteen people took the Oath of Allegiance and became U.S. citizens Wednesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at the O.C. Fisher Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in San Angelo.
Magistrate Judge John R. Parker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas presided over the ceremony, welcoming the new citizens and emphasizing the significance of their journey to citizenship.
“You remind us, those of us who were born here and sometimes take it for granted, just how precious the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen are,” Parker said.
The 16 applicants represented five countries: India, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam, and Mexico. Four of them also petitioned for legal name changes as part of their naturalization process.
After taking the oath, the new citizens recited the Pledge of Allegiance and received their naturalization certificates.
Parker reflected on his own family’s immigrant history, noting his ancestors arrived in Texas before it became a state. He spoke about the contributions of immigrants to the U.S. economy and culture, adding that citizenship is more than a legal status—it is a commitment to American ideals.
“We all came from somewhere else,” Parker said. “Regardless of how we got here, we have rich treasures in terms of our perspectives and heritages to share.”
The court holds multiple naturalization ceremonies each year, with a large annual event at Angelo State University in December.
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