The overview
Last year, 64 new U.S. citizens were sworn in during a Constitution Day ceremony in Tomball.
This year, 78 new citizens were part of the naturalization ceremony, most of whom were youth and young adults. Candidates represented 30 countries, including:
- 14 candidates from Mexico
- 10 candidates from Vietnam
- Five candidates each from Nigeria, Cuba and Afghanistan
- LSC-Tomball President Lee Ann Nutt
- Wallace Carroll, field office director for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Houston Field Office
- Alison McNealy, branch chief of the USCIS Houston Field Office
- Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones
- “When you make this promise, you're not just promising to support and defend America; you're taking on the responsibilities of American citizenship, and we hope that you do so. You'll have the right to vote once you reach voting age; you'll have the right to run for certain elected office; you'll have the ability to serve in public office or simply help out in your communities and serve on juries,” McNealy said.
- “Today's the day that you took an oath to this amazing country. ... I believe deeply in the American dream,” Briones said. “I'm sure most of you believe deeply in the American dream. But what I believe the power is is helping it become the American reality, and that is something together that we can do and work on. All of our families deserve a fair shot. All of our families deserve the highest quality education and health care and jobs and economic opportunities. ... What I encourage you to do as you think of making the American dream the American reality for you, is focus deeply on your studies. You make this country a better place to live, and together, we will build and continue keeping the United States the greatest country in the world.”
