In a beautiful courtyard in the Santa Monica Mountains, 40 immigrants became United States citizens during a ceremony hosted by Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Photos here.
The 40 new U.S. citizens hail from the following nine countries: Armenia, Brazil, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Philippines and Russia.“We’re delighted to host this important and life-changing ceremony for new citizens,” said Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Superintendent David Szymanski who delivered opening remarks.
“As American citizens, they become owners and stewards of these public lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and around the country. We hope they enjoy these places and share them with family, friends, and others from around the world.” USCIS Supervisory Immigration Officer John Holland conducted the call of countries and presentation of candidates for citizenship.
San Fernando Valley Field Office Director Robert Sanders delivered keynote remarks and administered the Oath of Allegiance.
“This picturesque site provides an ideal backdrop for America’s newest U.S. citizens,” said Sanders. “We’re thrilled to work with the National Park Service creating a very memorable day they’ll never forget.”At the conclusion of the ceremony, park rangers introduced the new citizens to the outdoors and led them on a short hike to Inspiration Point nearby.
“I feel very excited and happy to do this because I have kids who were born here,” said Jeleide Ibagy, a social worker originally from Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. She was accompanied by her Brazilian-born husband who became an American citizen the week before.
“I want to be part of our process and fight for what I think is right,” she added. “We’re just trying to do our best by following the law. Now we can vote and help with democracy.”
USCIS and NPS first signed an agreement in September 2006 to connect America’s newest citizens to national parks throughout the country. These historic and often picturesque public sites provide an ideal backdrop for citizenship ceremonies.
Since 2006, USCIS has coordinated special citizenship ceremonies at many of the 400 places safeguarded by NPS around the country. NPS has helped USCIS welcome new citizens in locations including Yosemite National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and numerous other sites on the National Mall.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.
