This past weekend, 4,039 people became citizens of the United States of America at Fairplex Exhibition Hall in Southern California. Judge Virginia Phillips presided over the process. Over the past year, almost 66,000 people living as permanent residents of the U.S. have officially become citizens in the Southern California seven-country district including Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
The new citizens were informed after the ceremony that they were now able to obtain a passport and register to vote. In addition, they were informed that they must surrender their green cards granting them permanent residency and update their Social Security status.
Out of the group to become citizens, 962 were originally from Mexico, 460 were from the Philippines, 260 were from Vietnam, 205 were from China and 203 came to the U.S. from Iran. At the end of the ceremony, the group watched a video-recorded message from President Obama telling them, “This is officially your country. Always remember, no dream in America is impossible.”
If you or someone you know would like to apply to become a citizen of the United States, contact the Orange County naturalization lawyers of Garg & Associates P.C. at 949-540-6704 to set up an appointment to discuss naturalization in Orange County with an experienced immigration attorney.