U.S. welcomes 41 children as new citizens

Record ID: 897906

  • Title: U.S. welcomes 41 children as new citizens
  • Date: 3rd July 2017
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE USS IOWA VARIOUS OF 16-YEAR OLD FRIDA IBANEZ TAKING OATH OF CITIZENSHIP (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRIDA IBANEZ SAYING: "I came from Mexico. Both my parents are from Mexico. They just came to give me a better future and I hope to be a good citizen after this and bring something to the country." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN TAKING OATH (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRIDA IBANEZ SAYING: "I think, yes, some of my friends are concerned about the situation going on and they are aware because of the news and everyone taking about the situation." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN TAKING OATH CAMERA PERSON CHILDREN TAKING OATH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN CURDA, DISTRICT DIRECTOR US CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES LOS ANGELES, SAYING: "There are 41 children and they are from 14 different countries from all around the world and they range in age from 7 to 22." CHILDREN TAKING OATH WOMAN TAKING PHOTO CHILDREN TAKING OATH GIRL RECEIVING CERTIFICATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 16-YEAR OLD CATHERINE EASLEY SAYING: "I'm very happy because I'm a U.S. citizen and I'm 16 years old." BOY RECEIVING CERTIFICATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAMALA HARRIS, U.S. SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "I think it's absolutely wrong to have any policy that would divide families and in particular that would take parents from their children and children from their parents. That does not reflect the values of who we are as a country and I'm opposed to any policy that would do that." CHILDREN RECEIVING CERTIFICATE VARIOUS OF CHILDREN POSING WITH CERTIFICATES U.S. FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2017 20:58
  • Keywords: Immigration naturalization citizen U.S.S. Iowa Kamala Harris
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016O5ZXB9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Forty-one children became U.S. citizens in Los Angeles on Monday (July 03). The group ceremony, held aboard the USS Iowa battleship museum, brought together children from 14 countries, age 7 to 22.
    The group took individual oaths before taking part in a group pledge. All the children have parents who have become naturalized citizens.
    "I came from Mexico. Both my parents are from Mexico. They just came to give me a better future and I hope to be a good citizen after this and bring something to the country," said 16-year old Frida Ibanez.
    U.S. senator Kamala Harris was at the ceremony, greeting the new citizens; Harris has been an outspoken advocate of immigration rights and has been vocal in her opposition of U.S. president Donald Trump's immigration policies, including his travel ban and proposed border wall with Mexico.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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