‘The Face of America Is All Of Us’: Celebrating New Americans On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day 2025

This week’s Constitution Day and Citizenship Day observance, which was held nationwide on September 17, celebrated immigrants who have had the opportunity to raise their right hand and take the Oath of Allegiance to their adoptive home country.

In Arizona, 29 new Americans hailing from more than a dozen nations were naturalized at a ceremony overlooking the majestic Grand Canyon National Park. Park Superintendent Ed Keable “opened the ceremony with heartfelt remarks, drawing parallels between the resilience of the landscape and the perseverance of those on the path to citizenship,” the National Park Service said.

“‘The Grand Canyon endures. Life will return, forests will regrow, and the canyon will remain a symbol of strength and renewal,’ Keable said, noting ongoing fire management efforts on the North Rim. ‘In many ways, this mirrors the journey you have taken to become U.S. citizens. The path to citizenship is not always easy. It requires perseverance, courage, and a steadfast belief in building a better future.’”

In Utah, the nearly 90 immigrants who were sworn in as U.S. citizens were reminded that they each form a unique thread in the fabric that is America.

“This is our country’s motto: E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one,” a speaker told attendees, who hailed from three dozen nations. Among the new Americans was Ciria Almanza, a small business owner who said her naturalization process was “long, but worth it,” Fox 13 reported. Almanza was accompanied by her family, including a son who is enrolled in the U.S. military. “It’s fantastic,” Luis Almanza told Fox 13. “We’re so happy for her.”

“I think it’s a really big thing for us, and I’ve been wanting this for so long,” daughter Emma Almanza added. “I don’t think a lot of people understand how hard it can be for so many people. I think it’s just really good that she has her citizenship now.” Ciria said her children are a big reason why she took this final step in her naturalization process. “We are all here for the same reason: looking for a better life, for our kids, for ourselves,” she said.

In Massachusetts, 51 immigrants from 31 nations swore the Oath of Allegiance during a ceremony held at Western New England University School of Law, Western Mass News reported. Following the event, new Americans celebrated with cake, photos, and civic engagement information, such as voter information. “There’s no one face of our country,” U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni told the audience. “The face of America is all of us. America is every country you’re from every place you have been from, mixing and coming here, and it’s such a happy day.”

In North Carolina, Charlotte kicked off its “Week of Welcoming” with a naturalization ceremony that saw more than two dozen immigrants become U.S. citizens. It was also a very special day for Saira Estrada, who helped organize the event and is Charlotte’s Language Access and Immigrant Integration Coordinator. “Naturalization ceremonies take me back to when I became a naturalized citizen,” she told WFAE. “So it’s excitement, it’s the nerves, it’s remembering how I felt. So it’s very personal.”

And in Florida, our immigrant neighbors got the unique experience of being sworn in as U.S. citizens before a Jumbo Shrimp baseball game at Jacksonville’s VyStar Ballpark, News4JAX reported. Kevin Mierez-Galo, among the 20 new citizens, arrived in America as a refugee and was accompanied to the ceremony by all his loved ones. “Its just like a big open hug from the community,” Mierez-Galo told News4JAX. “I’m going to cry no questions.”

“Last year approximately 818,500 people in the United States were granted U.S. citizenship, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,” CBS News reported. “Every year, thousands of Coloradans prepare for the citizenship exam.” Among new and prospective Americans are Luz Ocampo and her daughter Itzel, who have been studying together. Itzel is a brand-new U.S. citizen; mom Luz is currently working at it.

“’How many amendments does the constitution have?’ asks Luz, and Itzel responds, ‘27.’ Itzel didn’t want her mother to get tripped up during the interview because of her limited English,” the report said. “‘I want my family proud for me,’ said Luz. Itzel urged Luz to make sure she took time to absorb and understand what was being asked.”

Itzel noted that one thing that surprised her during her studying was finding out that some U.S.-born neighbors aren’t as knowledgeable about the history and facts that prospective citizens must study and know as part of their naturalization process. “I was like ‘What you mean you don’t know if you’re from here? You’re supposed to know more about your government.’ But they don’t,” Itzel said.

This year’s Constitution Day and Citizenship Day marks 20 years since the first federal recognition of the observance. While the federal law officially designating the observation was passed in 2004, what we know today as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day was first commemorated in various forms as far back as the 1930s and 1940s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a resolution recognizing the third Sunday in May as “I Am An American Citizenship Day,” said the Congressional Research Service.

“In 1952, I Am An American Citizenship Day was renamed to Citizenship Day and the observance date was moved from May 3 to September 17 to coincide with the anniversary of the Constitution’s signing,” the Congressional Research Service continued. “In 1956, September 17-25 was designated as Constitution Week. In November 2004, Congress renamed the September 17 observance to ‘Constitution Day and Citizenship Day’ and directed educational institutions that receive federal funding to hold related educational programs.”

Zuhail Corro-Vazquez, Welcoming Network Project Manager at the Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs, said that as a recent American, she knows how important it is that eligible immigrants have the support and knowledge they need when embarking on the naturalization process.

“Many immigrants arriving to the U.S. are faced with the challenges of navigating a new culture, learning a foreign system, and figuring out what steps they should take to fully begin to belong here,” she wrote in a blog published at Phily.gov. “I am familiar with these challenges because I experienced them myself. When I first arrived in the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen felt like a distant dream.”

The fact is that the dreams of immigrants help sustain the American Dream for us all. In Philadelphia alone, data has shown that immigrants have boosted the city’s population growth over the past three decades, contributing to the city’s economic sustainability and benefitting everyone. Their tax dollars go back into the community, helping keep streets clean and local libraries and fire departments running. Last month, a recent art project led in part by the city of Philadelphia honored the stories of some of these immigrant Philadelphians:

“The naturalization process is a long journey, one that requires patience, determination, and a deep commitment to understanding not only the laws but also the responsibilities that come with being a citizen,” Corro-Vazquez continued in her blog post. “When I finally took the oath of allegiance, it was more than a formality. It was a moment of pride, accomplishment, and gratitude. I was no longer just living in the United States; I became part of it as a citizen.”