Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Naturalization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
56 people sworn in as U.S. citizens at Urbana ceremony; officials urge voting
Summary
A special session of the U.S. District Court in Urbana administered the oath to dozens of new citizens. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Urbana Mayor Deshawn Williams encouraged the newly naturalized to register and vote; voter-registration tables were available after the ceremony.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT — A special naturalization ceremony in Urbana on Tuesday formally conferred U.S. citizenship on scores of residents, court officials said, concluding with the administration of the oath and a receiving line where judges and elected officials handed out certificates.
United States Magistrate Judge Eric Long opened the session, acknowledged local partners and community groups that helped stage the event and thanked the Urbana Firefighters Local 1147 Honor Guard for presenting the colors. Ellie Hoa, an immigration services officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services St. Louis field office, told the court she was presenting "56 candidates for United States citizenship from 21 countries," and moved that the court confer citizenship on each upon taking the oath. The motion was granted and the oath was administered to the candidates.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) addressed the hall, recounting his family’s immigrant history and urging the new citizens to participate in elections. "You can now register to vote. That is the most important single thing," Durbin said, asking attendees to use their new right to vote. Mayor Deshawn Williams also welcomed the new citizens on behalf of the city of Urbana and praised the contributions immigrants bring to local life.
Judge Long offered extended remarks about citizenship’s rights and responsibilities, noting jury service and civic engagement as central duties. Before the receiving line, attendees were reminded that the League of Women Voters of Champaign County had a table set up to accept voter-registration forms from those who wished to register immediately.
The court called candidates forward in rows to receive certificates of naturalization, lapel pins and small flags; officials including the magistrate judge, the senator and the mayor congratulated recipients in the receiving line. The ceremony closed with the pledge of allegiance and the court recessed.
Notes on counts and sources: the transcript of the ceremony contains inconsistent totals — the presiding judge at one point referenced "57 individuals from 25 separate countries," while the USCIS officer’s presentation stated "56 candidates from 21 countries." The article reports both figures as stated during the ceremony and notes the discrepancy.
