Tiny flags, big emotions, and a packed gallery at the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago's South Side set the scene Friday as 91 people from more than 20 countries raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens.
U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall presided over the naturalization ceremony, leading the group through the Oath of Allegiance before each new American received a certificate recognizing their citizenship. In all, 91 people from 22 countries took that final step in a process that, for many, had stretched over years of paperwork, interviews, background checks, and anxious waiting, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Some had been brought to the United States as children; others were more recent arrivals who described the ceremony as a long-sought milestone and a chance to fully put down roots. One participant told the outlet she hoped taking the oath would encourage others to complete the naturalization process.
Personal stories
Among the Chicagoans officially welcomed as citizens was Mercedes Rivera Casillas, who was born in Mexico. She told ABC7 Chicago that gaining citizenship eased a constant worry about immigration enforcement that had lingered in the background of everyday life. With that fear lifted, she said she felt freer to join holiday gatherings and family events without the same level of concern.
Another new citizen, Fanele Mbatha, immigrated from South Africa with her mother. She said the oath was a way to carry on her late mother's legacy, and that holding a U.S. passport would help her see more of the world. As ABC7 Chicago reported, the morning was filled with similar stories of loss, hope, and plans for new beginnings.
Officials' remarks
Addressing the crowd, Rep. Mike Quigley offered a pointed reminder about the country's self-image, telling the new citizens that "the Statue of Liberty is not holding a stop sign," according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He praised the diversity the group brings to the United States and urged them to share their cultures, get involved locally, and invest in their communities. Federal and civic leaders framed the morning as both a deeply personal moment for each individual and a civic milestone that lands amid ongoing political fights over immigration policy in Washington.
Policy backdrop
The celebration also unfolded against a tense national backdrop. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has directed staff to stop adjudicating certain immigration pathways for nationals of a list of 19 countries, a move that advocates say has led to last-minute cancellations at some oath ceremonies, according to GBH News. The outlet reported that at one ceremony in Boston, some immigrants were "plucked out of line" and prevented from taking the oath. Legal-aid groups have pushed for clearer notice and better rescheduling procedures for those affected.
USCIS has described the changes as enhanced vetting measures designed to safeguard national security. Critics interviewed by GBH News say the policies have sown confusion and caused hardship for applicants who thought they were at the finish line.
Back in Chicago, the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive hosted Friday's ceremony, listing the venue on its website and noting that the museum has hosted large civic events this year. New citizens departed with information on passports and voter registration, along with plans for travel, family reunions, and new responsibilities. Organizers encouraged applicants to closely monitor communications from USCIS and to reach out to legal-aid groups with any concerns.
For many who walked out into the South Side winter air with certificates in hand, the oath did not feel like the end of a long process so much as the first page of a new chapter in Chicago life.
