The City of San Antonio hosted a naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day inside the municipal building. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones was in attendance last Wednesday as the guest speaker alongside Judge Elizabeth Chestney and Acting District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Jesse Mendez.
Before beginning the ceremony, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presented the colors. Mendez began the ceremony by describing its significance.
“Throughout the country, in many of our field offices and other locations where we host ceremonies, thousands of new citizens will be sworn in today,” Mendez said. “We are not only celebrating Citizenship Day but Constitution Day as well. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those days coincided. It represents how important United States citizens are to the fabric of this country.”
Jones then spoke in front of the attendees awaiting to take their oath to become U.S. citizens. As a first-generation American, she explained how her mother migrated from the Philippines, graduating from the number one university. Jones describes her mother coming to America as a demonstration of hard work.
“It is my mom’s story and her courage that allowed me to do it all. My mom came to this country, and we were very lucky to have been born here,” Jones said. “I know today you are earning your citizenship, but I also know what this has meant for my own family and what it potentially means for you and for generations of your family. This is a turning point that changes the trajectory of your life and changes the trajectory of your family’s life.”
Jones congratulated everyone who was in attendance. Chestney recognized Jennifer Rios, the immigration services officer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to call out who was in attendance. There were 50 applicants present from 23 countries on the morning of Sept. 17; six petitioned for name changes on their respective applications. The court recognized that the attendees’ applications had been accepted by the board, along with any requests for name changes.
After Chestney verified if Rios was satisfied with the applicants, Rios read off the various countries that are represented at the ceremony. When the attendees’ country of citizenship was recognized, they were asked to stand and remain standing to receive the oath of Naturalization.
“I do, by the authority vested in me as a United States magistrate judge and by your qualifications and the oath you’ve just taken, each of you is now a citizen of the United States of America. Congratulations,” Chestney said.
This would be Jones’ second naturalization ceremony since becoming mayor. Her first naturalization ceremony occurred a day before Independence Day. At the previous ceremony Jones attended, she reflected back on her youth assisting her mother while she studied for her American citizenship test.
The ceremony concluded with each applicant receiving their naturalization certificate and taking a photo with the mayor.
