09/12/2007 Advisory: USCIS Hosts Nevada's Largest-Ever Citizenship Ceremony

[Immigration Office]

USCIS HOSTS NEVADA’S LARGEST-EVER CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

Newest U.S. Citizens to Be Welcomed at Cashman Theatre

LAS VEGAS

– U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will swear in more than 1,000 area residents at Cashman Theater in celebration of Citizenship Day on Monday, September 17, 2007. This is the first time that a citizenship swearing-in ceremony will be held at Cashman Theatre, and the largest to be held anywhere in the State.
The Honorable Judge Roger L. Hunt will swear in the 1,009 new U.S. citizens who hail from 74 countries: Australia, Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kampuchea, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, USSR, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, and Yugoslavia. .
Alfonso Aguilar, Chief of USCIS’ Office of Citizenship, will deliver the keynote speech. Two new citizen candidates will also speak, one of whom, Adelia Cabutotan, will swear in as a new citizen along with five family members - her twin sister, brother and their spouses - after an immigration journey of almost two decades
The new citizens and their families will be treated to a special musical presentation by local singer/songwriter Veronica Lopez, who will perform her song "America's Glory". She composed the song based upon her father's naturalization and in gratitude for him becoming an American citizen. The song includes the refrain: "when you gave my father the Stars and Stripes, you gave them to me."
Last year, USCIS welcomed more than 700,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States. That number includes 7,809 naturalized in Las Vegas and nearly 7,000 members of the armed forces who naturalized both in the U.S. and abroad through an expedited process stemming from their military service.

WHO:

The Honorable Judge Roger L. Hunt
Alfonso Aguilar, USCIS Chief of the Office of Citizenship
Lola K. Parocua, USCIS Field Office Director

LOCATION:

Cashman Theatre
850 Las Vegas Blvd N.
Las Vegas, NV 89101

DATE/TIME:

Monday, September 17, 2007 at 10 a.m.

www.uscis.gov

**Applicants for citizenship will arrive at 8 a.m. Media are strongly encouraged to arrive early to interview applicants before the ceremony. Please bring your press credentials and a business card to expedite check in.

– USCIS –