U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) on Nov. 10 by presenting 60 local kids their citizenship certificates at Channel Islands National Park. This ceremony is representational of the partnership between USCIS and the NPS, and is a step towards our goal of holding at least 100 naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout this centennial year.
This ceremony is in recognition of children and youth who obtained citizenship through their parents. Some were adopted by U.S. citizen parents; others derived citizenship when their immigrant parents became naturalized citizens.
USCIS Supervisory Immigration Officer Mike Gorman will provide introductory remarks to youth and guests while Section Manager John Holland will deliver the keynote address and administer the Oath of Allegiance. Families and guests will also enjoy a welcome message from a NPS Ranger scuba diver from 14 miles off the coast of California. Immigration Service Officer Leon Jackson, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance along with local youths.
The 60 children hail from 23 different countries, including: Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Eritrea, Philippines, Colombia, Vietnam, Israel, Armenia, S. Korea, Iran, Guatemala, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Thailand, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, China, Romania, Yemen, Ethiopia and El Salvador.
The NPS has partnered with USCIS on promoting awareness and understanding of citizenship since 2006. Since the launch of the partnership, the NPS has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, the base of Mount Rushmore, Ellis Island, and at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
To view a complete list of naturalization ceremonies held in units of the National Park Service today, please visit uscis.gov/news.
We encourage new citizens, their families and friends to share their experiences and photos from naturalization ceremonies held at National Park Sites on social media using the hashtags #newUScitizen and #FindYourPark.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at 10:30 a.m & 2:00 p.m.
NOTE: Please arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony begins to allow yourself enough time to check-in with the Public Affairs Officer.
The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura
