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Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
215 petitioners, including El Salvador native Enrique Torres Manzano, center, raise their right hands and swear an oath to the United States and become new citizens during a ceremony at the National Archives on Sept. 17 in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was held on the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in the Rotunda of the archives which holds the "Charters of Freedom": The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
Two-hundred-fifteen petitioners became U.S. citizens Monday during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., according to Getty Images. The Rotunda holds the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, which collectively make up the "Charters of Freedom."
Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA
Maria Cruz, center, of El Salvador joins 214 other petitioners seeking U.S. citizenship in saying the Pledge of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony in the National Archives, in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17.
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
U.S. Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano speaks at a naturalization ceremony on Sept. 17 at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
A native of Lebanon, Mirna Mumm uses a U.S. flag to hold her hair in place after becoming one of 215 new citizens during a ceremony at the National Archives on Sept. 17 in Washington, D.C.
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This is fantastic and what democracy is all about. I can only imagine that everyone of these people today felt a wonderful sense of pride and belonging. It is a huge undertaking - swearing, allegiance to another nation and promising to protect and serve it when required. Tomorrow, they will all be able to register as voters and will be able to exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of this great nation. I congratulate each and everyone of them.
This is so great! When you take a good look at all of these new citizens, you can readily see enormous cultural diversity and that is always a good thing. This is exactly what our solution to the illegal immigrant dilemma should be - require all illegals to learn English, to study the US Constitution, to take the exams required for citizenship, to legitimately earn a social security card, etc. Then, all the new citizens begin paying taxes just like the rest of us. What a huge shot in the arm for our beleaguered economy that would be!
Sarita Shires,I agree with your post.In California we are culturally diversified.I've worked with and now have customers that came here from around the world.They all became citizens of the United States after immigrating to this country by legal means.They are the ones who yell the loudest against illegal immigration.
Sarita Shires
WRONG!!!
It would be better if we DEPORTED ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS regardless of where they came from.
Then permit those FOLLOWING our rules and laws to LEGALLY enter our country and earn citizenship as the people mentioned in this article did.
What you are suggesting is nothing more than rewarding those who flaunted and intentionally broke our laws with citizenship. They did NOT EARN that right. They're stealing it from others who obeyed the law.
Deporting illegal aliens is supposed to be racist now, because over 85% of all illegal aliens in our country are from Mexico, or countries south of it! I'm still trying to comprehend why this fact makes me a racist if I support our immigration laws?
Good for them!Doing it legally!It definitely shows that they have respect for our country and our laws.I hope they do well and are positive contributors to our country unlike the ILLEGAL immigrants that come here and demand money,housing,medical, education, ect......oh yeah, i must be a racist because i support our immigration laws, lol.These people must be racist too because they are being law-abiding.
We have WAY enough diversity
You better learn or brush up on your spanish, and Sharia Law if these politically correct people continue to breed!
I am delighted that there are still those who come to America that want to become citizens.Since there are more than enough people willing to take the plunge towards citizenship then I see no problem with deporting those who come here illegally.
How long until their voting rights are challange by you know who, hope the goverment gives them picture IDs or they might get their first taste of smear politics .
These people, even if challenged, will have proper ID, because they took the time and made the effort to immigrate legally. See how that works? Do things the right way and you have nothing to fear. Do things the right way and you get to be a full, productive member of society. Lie, cheat and steal and you get what you deserve (and don't get what you don't deserve).
seems like your liberal stance is obvious... nice try at pushing the lefty agenda. They are now legal citizens and will have ID.....and they'll probably vote for Romney because they left their home country to pursue the American Dream; not to live on welfare and food stamps under the control of the dems and food stamp prez.
Perhaps, and this is a stretch for your liberal mind to comprehend, they didnt come here to have the government GIVE them anything at all. Maybe they came here to PURSUE a better life and be productive members of society by their own means. Not everyone wants a hand-out like yourself and the left.
seemssoobvious
Obviously your on-line name is NOT indicative of your intelligence. Having gone through the process LEGALLY, these people now have the proper ID to pursue the American Dream.
So as you should obviously see, coming here legally SEEMS SO OBVIOUS.
Good to see that LEGAL immigration is still working.
CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME to the newest legal immigrants to this great country.
YOU have shown what it means to want to pursue something of meaning. YOU are able to partake of the benefits of this country and add to it's greatness. YOU have learned what is necessary and YOU have taken an Oath of Allegiance to this land. YOU are assimilating to this country and NOT asking this country to change to what YOU want. You're adding your experience and culture, not asking others to change to your former culture.
The plain fact of the matter is,most of these people are lying.They are NOT pledging allegiance to my beloved nation,they are acting.We have NO NEED to maintain the open immigration policies of the past.The doors to this country should've been shut long ago.The US and world populations have doubled in less than 60 years.All those "Americans" can now bring their family here.We let around 1 million people come to this country EVERY year.MANY,many people come here to get health care and services.If you think these people are actually going to care about this nation,our nation,my nation more than their own you are fools
pained1: The only fool here is you and "you" do not represent my Country, thankfully! The fact you blindly state these people are lying is sure nonsense! You don't have any facts to back up your statements only your delusional thoughts, which amounts to "lies". Give everyone here a break and put down you KKK booklet, it's making you crazzzzzzzy!!!!!!....
pained1
While there is a modicum of truth to what you say, I will also submit that the vast majority of these people ARE grateful and ARE Pledging Allegience to our nation.
I know many citizens who came here from other countries. To be candid, not one of them want to go back, even to visit relatives. They came here to escape the persecution of their "home" lands and the freedoms they know we enjoy.
And I know MANY that are in fact very involved with working to help this country overcome the threats we have from others that want to destroy our way of life. They work even harder than many of our native born citizens as they KNOW FIRSTHAND the threats and what it would mean to our way of life as they have already lived it and don't want to see it flourish here.
I WILL agree that we need to STOP the ILLEGAL ALIEN invasion, and deport those illegals already here, but to use such a broad brush and denigrate those who follow the rules and abide by our laws is too harsh. They worked within the system to come here. Welcome them until they show they are not worthy of citizenship.
There is more than a modicum of truth to my statements.Someone can come here and get JET flying lessons,they can abuse the system?
There is no animosity only pride when it's done right, please come, share with us, you are welcomed! If you have ever been to one of these events you would notice how grateful these people are, the cheering, exuberance, thrill of it all, it's inspiring to see their faces as they take the "Oath of Allegiance" and get pronounced American Citizens. This is the way, none other! If you think you have a "right" to come to this Country any other way you're sadly mistaking and what happens to you is your own fault!...
The KKK.You should say that in person.They are fools who are laughed out of any place they go.Let's hear about YOUR paternity.Why do I think it goes back not very far here.You deny the population numbers?Look them up.
What I don't understand about our Government, if we as Americans, are living in a "Recession" or trying to get out of one, and the job "Markets" are slow in hiring, and we're trying to create "JOBS"...
...why in the "WORLD" would we be allowing more people to come to this country (In the name of: You're welcome, at a time like this?)
If we are barely making now, Why are we creating more problems by letting "HUNDREDS of Immigrants" comes and make us more "POORER"
Where are ALL these people, going to eat and sleep, if we are crying for Jobs, food, shelter, and money to live?
"IF YOUR HOUSE is filled to the capacity, and you don't have, why are you asking for more Mouths to feed?
Whenever, your HOUSE IS full, you can't let more in."
These people are running from their countries because of trouble. Their countries are in havoc, and it is an endless flock of people coming over here, whom MOST DON'T have OUR COUNTRY AT HEART.
WE don't know all the background of these people, we don't know their true motives as to why they are coming over here, and we are letting them "OVER FLO this country" all in the name of You're Welcome...
I am for permitting anyone to come, but it seems as this "FLO of People is OVERTAKING our country, and about to run the TRUE AMERICANS out of their OWN LAND.
When we look at China, and other countries, they are letting only a few people in.
Most of these people who are coming here, DO NOT believe as we believe. These that are coming want to change our laws to their laws, and live by their own rules when they get here.
They want to move in, but yet speak their mind about their gods, and their beliefs.
America, can't do that when we go to other countries.
These that have taken the "Oath of Allegiance" don't believe one word of it, neither do they honor it. The Oath of Allegiance, means you will honor, and even fight in the war if you have too.
The Arabs that comes here, will never fight against their country, and if they are in our Army, we can't trust them, because they are so dishonest, and you can't tell if they are for you are against you.
The Mexicans, coming over here, are running from the Drug Cartels, are making room for them.
This is really something to be concerned about.
Don't you know?We're in the KKK!
Welcome new citizens. Thank you for doing it legally.