LA ceremony welcomes 40 proud, diverse US citizens

24.08.2024 01:31

DailyNews.com

Matilda Lopez, 9-months old, waits for her grandmother Regina Aguillon from El Salvador to recite the oath of allegiance during a swearing in ceremony for 40 new U.S citizens at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Accompanied by their beaming spouses, friends, siblings, children and grandchildren, 40 new United States citizens put their hands on their hearts and recited the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Loyola Law School near downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 23.

The ceremony, held by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, marked the final milestone on the lengthy path to citizenship for the diverse, proud group of Americans.

The 40 new U.S. citizens hail from every area of the globe and represent 22 countries of origin, including Armenia, Brazil, China and Mexico.

“Here in Los Angeles, it’s such a diverse melting pot of people from across the country and the world,” said Claire Nicholson, a public affairs officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “It makes us better and it enriches our country and Los Angeles. We get to see their talents, their foods, their cultures, their new languages that they’re bringing to the city.”

Regina Aguillon, who is originally from El Salvador and became a U.S. citizen on Thursday, was joined by Matilda, her 9-month-old granddaughter. Though likely unaware of Aguillon’s achievement, Matilda smiled at her grandmother, sat contently in her stroller and gripped a small American flag.

“The ceremonies are really special and we try to make them as memorable as possible,” Nicholson said. “It really commemorates their commitment to America and honors their process.”

Nicholson said that nationwide, there are 9 million people who are eligible for the naturalization process, and she encourages them to look into how they can become U.S. citizens.

The road to citizenship can be challenging and takes several years. For U.S. permanent residents who already hold green cards, the minimum wait time to apply to become a citizen is three to five years, and the application costs between $380 to $760.

Citizenship application phases include an interview and exam, and the process culminates with a cheerful ceremony like the one held at Loyola Law School on Thursday.