Western New England University School of Law recently hosted naturalization proceedings for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Blake Law Center. Several immigrants from western Massachusetts took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, and were sworn in as U.S. citizens during the ceremony. The citizenship candidates include immigrants from; Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, China, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Moldova, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
“The great strength of our country is its ability to attract new citizens from all around the world who come for their own personal reasons but who contribute their talents, culture, and values to enrich the country as a whole,” remarked Eric Gouvin, Dean of the School of Law. “The naturalization ceremony is a celebration of that strength and we are honored to host it.”
Dean Gouvin will presented the welcoming remarks at the ceremony. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni L'89, ruled on the motion to accept the new citizens, administered the Oath of Allegiance to the applicants, and challenged them to embrace their new privileges and responsibilities.
Attorney Kathryn Foster L'09, sang the National Anthem, and Tatenda Chitemerere J.D. L'15, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Zimbabwe, offered welcoming remarks to the newly sworn in citizens.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of Citizenship Certificates and inspiring remarks from President Barack Obama, by way of videotape.
