61 NEW UNITED STATES CITIZENS NATURALIZED AT CEREMONY
By: Ricardo E. Calderon ©
The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, held a naturalization ceremony for 61 new United States citizens, representing six countries, on Friday, February 24, 2012, at 10 A.M. at the Del Rio Civic Center.
United States Magistrate Judge Collis White presided over the naturalization ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the 61 new United States citizens.
Supervisory Deputy United States Marshall Mario Pelayo did the Opening Cry for the Court to get underway the naturalization ceremony.
The United States Air Force Color Guard of Laughlin Air Force Base presented the colors at the ceremony.
United States Magistrate Judge Collis White presented the welcoming remarks at the ceremony.
Kathryn McWilliams performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Amanda Fiorita of United States Customs and Immigration Services presented the procedural questioning of the 61 applicants to the Court.
Judge White administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens after having satisfied all the legal and procedural requirements to become a naturalized United States citizen.
United States Air Force Airman First Class Leona Guy recited the Pledge of Allegiance at the ceremony together with the new 61 citizens. Airman First Class Leona Guy herself is a naturalized U.S. Citizen from Belize.
Del Rio High School Assistant Principal, Jose Francisco Perez, was the Guest Speaker and congratulated the new 61 citizens and encouraged them to participate in American democracy while making a difference in their communities. Perez himself is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Mexico. He volunteers in many community activities including the Clinica de Inmigración San Jose in Del Rio.
Judge White congratulated the new 61 naturalized U.S. citizens and presented them their Certificate of Naturalization.
Kathryn McWilliams sang God Bless America to the new citizens.
The United States Air Force Color Guard retired the colors and Judge White adjourned the Court.
Following the naturalization ceremony, the new 61 U.S. citizens took their photograph with Judge White and family members.
Refreshments and cookies were provided to the new 61 U.S. citizens, guests, ad public.
Volunteers from Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and Clinica de Inmigración de San Jose assisted at the ceremony.
Representatives from the U.S. Social Security Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Val Verde County Clerk’s Office assisted the new 61 citizens to receive or make changes to their social security information, driver’s licenses, and voter registrations.
The six countries represented at the ceremony were Mexico, Serbia and Monte Negro, Honduras, Canada, Lithuania, and Philippines.
Many of the new 61 citizens reside in Eagle Pass and Maverick County while others in Del Rio and Val Verde County.
