The ceremony, conducted under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics, 191 Ryders Lane on the Douglass Campus in New Brunswick. The ceremony is part of the Eagleton Program on Immigration and Democracy directed by Assistant Research Professor Anastasia Mann.
USCIS’ John Thompson, district director of the Newark Field Office, will present the candidates for naturalization and Randi Borgen, field office director, will administer the Oath of Allegiance. Rutgers student Katherine de la Merced (Class of 2013), a member of the Voorhees Choir, will perform the national anthem. The ceremony will be preceded by a light breakfast.
This semester, the Eagleton Program on Immigration and Democracy launched “Citizenship Rutgers,” an opportunity for legal, permanent residents to apply for U.S. citizenship. Free information sessions open to Rutgers students, staff, faculty and friends were scheduled on the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses. Immigration lawyers reviewed eligibility on an individual basis and applicants received assistance completing paperwork in various languages. They also received free photocopies of documents and photographs.
“New Jersey, among the most diverse states in the nation, is home to 1.7 million foreign-born residents, of which about 400,000 are legal permanent residents and are eligible to be naturalized under U.S. law,” Mann said. “Potential citizens from 44 countries, including Madagascar, Trinidad/Tobago, India, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, England, Portugal and Australia attended Citizenship Rutgers sessions.
“We’re pleased to host this ceremony as part of the effort to build bridges from Rutgers to the immigrant communities that make New Jersey strong.”
To learn more about Citizenship Rutgers and the naturalization ceremony, call 732-932-9384, ext. 280, write amann@rutgers.edu or click here.
Media Contact: Steve Manas
732-932-7084, ext. 612
E-mail: smanas@ur.rutgers.edu