25 people from 18 different countries took the Oath of Allegiance and obtained their naturalization certificates in Vermont despite the US government shutdown. The shutdown has not affected the USCIS and this immigration agency has enough funds to operate throughout the shutdown. That is the reason why the naturalization ceremony went on as scheduled.
This naturalization ceremony was the US District Court at Rice Memorial High School’s special session. US Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy presided over the ceremony. He addressed the new US citizens and told them that they have taken a courageous step to pursue their dreams. He told that diversity is one of America’s strengths.
According to the Burlington Free Press, the newly naturalized citizens are from Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iraq, Jamaica, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Conroy, during the ceremony enumerated the requirements the new citizens satisfied to obtain US citizenship. He spoke about the residency requirements and about the background checks they underwent. He also spoke about the challenging US citizenship test and interview that the applicants passed.
Immigrants to naturalize, need to get through the naturalization test and establish that they are proficient in English and that they are aware of the country’s history, apart from filing applications.
He also spoke about the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, that protect that Americans from discrimination based on religion, country of citizenship and skin color. Conroy then administered the Oath of Allegiance. The new citizens who took the oath vowed to support the country, its laws and its constitution.
Followed by that, the newly naturalized citizens were granted naturalization certificates.The US government shutdown did not impact this naturalization ceremony. Every year, the USCIS naturalizes around 680,000 new citizens and the agency will continue to accept and process immigration and naturalization applications, throughout the government shutdown. That is because USCIS is a fee-based agency and the agency does not depend on congressional appropriations.