Congressman Sam Farr will be in downtown Hollister tomorrow to
celebrate with more than 100 people as they take the oath that will
make them citizens of the United States.
Hollister – Congressman Sam Farr will be in downtown Hollister tomorrow to celebrate with more than 100 people as they take the oath that will make them citizens of the United States.
Farr will be on hand on the steps of the Veterans Memorial Building where people from 25 countries now living in an Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties will raise their right hands.
“The ceremony will put an emphasis on what it means to be a citizen,” said Jessica Schafer, press secretary for Farr. “It’s a fitting way to celebrate (Independence Day).”
To be eligible for naturalization, the process through which foreign nationals receive U.S. citizenship, a person must have a period of five years of continuous residence in the U.S. Also, they must pass a civics exam that covers topics in U.S. history and American government, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site.
During the ceremony Wednesday the new citizens will vow to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.
Mayor Pauline Valdivia will deliver a speech at the ceremony. The keynote address will be delivered by Hollister native Joe Paul Gonzalez, who is the son of immigrant farm workers. Farr will speak to close the ceremony.
Farr has been part of “Proud to be an American” citizenship ceremonies for 10 years. In the past, ceremonies have been held in Gonzales and Santa Cruz.
The ceremony in Hollister will be just one of more than 40 Fourth of July-week naturalization ceremonies around the country. By the time the last ceremony concludes on Thursday, the United States will have more than 15,000 new citizens.
Each year more than 450,000 people become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“Every Fourth of July we are reminded of the sacred responsibilities and privileges we enjoy as Americans,” wrote USCIS acting Director Michael Petrucelli. “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will introduce more than 15,000 new citizens to our American values of life, liberty and freedom, and allow them to truly celebrate Independence Day for the first time.”
Wednesday’s ceremony will start at 10am on the steps of Veterans Memorial Building.
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
