11/19/2009 USCIS Update: Two Sailors Become First to Naturalize in El Salvador

[Immigration Office]

USCIS Update: Two Sailors Become First to Naturalize in El Salvador

American Embassy Hosts Special USCIS Ceremony During Veterans Day Celebration



SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - The American Embassy hosted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Nov. 12, for the first U.S naturalization ceremony held in El Salvador.
Chargé de Affairs Robert Blau joined more than 200 Embassy staff, members of the U.S. military and foreign dignitaries to observe USCIS Mexico City Deputy District Director Mari-Carmen Jordan administer the Oath of Allegiance to the two Sailors.
Navy Seaman Jeremy Alberdas, a native of Panama, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Lynn Harris, a native of Germany, share more than the distinction of becoming the first two Americans to naturalize in El Salvador; their fathers are both veterans of the U.S. Army.
El Salvador is the 17th nation since 2004 where USCIS has conducted naturalization ceremonies outside the United States. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 authorized USCIS to conduct naturalization interviews and Oath ceremonies to members of the U.S. armed forces serving abroad.
Since October 2004, more than 7,500 service men and women have become naturalized U.S. citizens during ceremonies in Afghanistan, Djibouti, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom