30 Dallas residents sworn in as U.S. citizens at City Hall naturalization ceremony

Thirty Dallas residents from 19 countries took the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony held in the Flag Room at Dallas City Hall, city officials and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staff said.

Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo Pereira opened the program, identified several elected officials in attendance and thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and USCIS for partnering with the City of Dallas to hold the event. Cedillo Pereira noted the city's 2017 Welcoming Dallas strategic plan and said the ceremony advances the city's goal of increasing civic participation: "We want to ensure that every eligible United States citizen has access to exercise their right and responsibility to vote as immediately as possible."

Oscar Garcia, a supervisor with USCIS's Dallas Field Office, led the presentation of colors, the pledge of allegiance and the group recitation of the Oath of Allegiance. After the oath, Garcia said, "Congratulations, my fellow Americans. You're now citizens of the United States of America." USCIS staff then presented certificates to the newly naturalized citizens and read the roster of names.

Dr. Andrea Uddrea, deputy director of zoning in the City of Dallas Planning and Development Department, delivered the keynote address. Speaking from personal experience as an immigrant, she urged the new citizens to participate in civic life and to vote. "When I got my right to vote, I felt like my voice was heard," Uddrea said, recounting both her early struggles and her naturalization moment. She described immigrants as central to civic and economic life and invited the new citizens to "help build Dallas a better Dallas for all of us."

Christina Da Silva, assistant director for the Office of Equity and Inclusion, closed the program by thanking staff and partners, including the League of Women Voters and the local nonprofit Be Kinder Coffee, which provided refreshments. Da Silva advised participants to take care when posting photos online, asking people to cover identifying information on certificates, and invited attendees to assemble for a group photo with dignitaries.

The ceremony included brief remarks, the formal administration of the oath and the public presentation of certificates. City and federal officials remained on hand for photographs and to congratulate attendees following the proceedings.