Blog: City Blog

More Than 150 Naturalized Citizens from Nearly 50 Countries: Watch a Video of 13 Citizens' Stories

More than 150 citizens originating from nearly 50 countries around the world recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time as U.S. citizens after becoming naturalized in Knoxville on Tuesday, July 24, in the City County Building.

This video captures the stories of more than a dozen naturalized citizens who attended the ceremony:

Mayor Rogero gave welcoming remarks to the country’s newest citizens at the ceremony.

“Many of us have family stories of sacrifice and struggle to make a better life,” said Mayor Rogero. “You are living that story right now – that story of sacrifice and struggle, and that story of hope and opportunity.”

In 2016, Mayor Rogero joined mayors across the nation in declaring Knoxville to be a “Welcoming City.”

On September 18, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Catholic Charities Office of Immigration Services will hold a workshop for those living in East Tennessee who are interested in pursuing U.S. citizenship.

Since 2013, the U.S. District Court's Eastern District of Tennessee has naturalized 5,339 citizens. Of those, 2,260 were naturalized in Knoxville. The Eastern District of Tennessee also holds naturalization proceedings in Chattanooga and Greenville.

Click HERE for resources on pursuing U.S. citizenship today, or call 211.

Posted by On 27 July, 2018 at 5:10 PM