On Thursday, as the nation celebrated the Fourth of July, 147 new citizens were naturalized at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix.
Hailing from 45 countries, the new Americans gathered and took the citizenship Oath of Allegiance as friends and family looked on.
Sandra Smith, who originally came from the Bahamas, says she’s grateful to finally be a citizen.
“It’s just a great joy. … It’s just been a long process and I’m just excited to be a part of the U.S.,” she said.
The ceremony and celebration included a video message from President Joe Biden and a speech from federal Judge Roslyn Silver, who performed the ceremony. She encouraged the citizens to exercise their right to vote and enjoy free speech.
“You are now ‘We the People of the United States of America,’” Silver said.
“I don’t have the words to explain that much excitement and happ[iness] that is being officially a U.S. citizen and be more part of the community to vote,” said Luis Alejandro Escalante Armenta. He is one of the newly naturalized folks, originally from Mexico.
All of the citizens were examined by a designated officer before Thursday’s ceremony and found to have met the citizenship requirements of age, residency and “good moral character.”
Three prospective citizens who were scheduled to attend the ceremony couldn’t attend and will be rescheduled.
