SAN ANGELO, TX — Thirty-six people from 12 countries were sworn in as new United States citizens Wednesday morning during a naturalization ceremony held at Angelo State University’s C.J. Davidson Conference Center.
The ceremony was hosted by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, San Angelo Division, and presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Parker. According to court officials, 37 applicants were scheduled for naturalization, but one applicant was absent. The court approved citizenship for the 36 applicants in attendance, along with seven approved name-change petitions. The absent application was continued for good cause.
Countries represented during the ceremony included Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, India, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico.
The ceremony opened with a presentation of the colors by the Angelo State University AFROTC, Detachment 847, followed by remarks from Christopher Heisler, founder of the United States Honor Flag. Heisler said the flag presented at the ceremony has traveled to Ground Zero, the Pentagon, the Flight 93 Memorial, all 50 states, four Super Bowls and aboard the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis, covering more than 10 million miles.
“This single American flag was first carried by first responders here in Texas to Ground Zero just days after the September 11 attack,” Heisler said. “It stands in honor today of you, each and every one of you.”
Heisler told the new citizens that naturalized Americans often display a special commitment to the country because they choose it, rather than being born into it.
Judge Parker told the new citizens that the United States has always been shaped by immigration, noting that the nation’s history is a history of people coming from elsewhere. He said immigrants have had a profound impact on the country, pointing out that more than half of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants, nearly half of U.S. tech startups were started by immigrants, and more than half of small businesses in the country are started by immigrants. Parker added that about one-third of doctors in the United States are immigrants and said legal immigration contributes millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in annual revenue to the nation’s economy.
Judge Parker thanked the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance with the ceremony, specifically recognizing Lt. Quentin Williams and Deputy Brandon George. He also acknowledged the attendance of legislative representatives, including Lori Wilson, district director for State Rep. Drew Darby; Cheryl DeCordova, deputy director for State Sen. Charles Perry; and Kathy King, San Angelo regional director for U.S. Rep. August Pfluger.
He also told the new citizens that naturalization marked both the end of a lengthy process and the beginning of a new responsibility.
“With great rights and privileges also comes great responsibility,” Parker said, adding that citizenship carries both equality under the law and a duty to uphold the nation’s democratic principles.
An officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services formally moved the court to accept the 36 applications in attendance. After confirming that the applicants met all legal requirements and that no objections were raised from the audience, Judge Parker approved the motion.
The new citizens then took the Oath of Allegiance, officially completing the naturalization process.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates of citizenship by Judge Parker and the USCIS officer.
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