(Credit: Texas State University)
United State Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will welcome 250 immigrants from 59 countries as they are sworn in as new U.S. citizens Tuesday, March 26 during the annual Naturalization Ceremony at Texas State University.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place 1-2 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom. Prior to the ceremony, from 11 a.m.-noon, there will be a question-and-answer session with panelists in room 3-5.1 and individual consultations with immigration attorneys in room 3-7.1.
Scheduled guest speakers include María Rocha, executive director of the Indigenous Cultures Institute, Mark Kinzler, an immigration attorney with the Office of the Attorney for Students, and Aart Millecam, a San Marcos community member.
The youngest new citizen was born in Iraq in 2000. The oldest new citizen was born in Spain in 1936. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by congress. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights and responsibilities that the constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.
At this year’s event, the League of Women Voters of Hays County will provide information on local organizations and voter registration.
The event is sponsored by Texas State’s Hispanic Policy Network, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney for Students, Honors College, Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, and USCIS.
