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New Citizens Take Oath Coast to Coast

This year, as part of the U.S. courts’ annual, national initiative, federal judges swore in thousands of new citizens at more than 40 ceremonies throughout the country, including at many national historic places and national parks. The locations were chosen to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and to mark Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which each September commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787 and the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The video above features highlights from naturalization ceremonies at iconic sites from Ellis Island in New York to Yosemite National Park in California, captured on video by the staff of participating federal courts across the country.

The video below is an edited version of ceremonies live streamed at Ellis Island and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16. The events were a joint effort by the courts, the park service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Civics Renewal Network.