Department of Neighborhoods
Press Release
NEW AMERICANS TAKE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP AT CITY HALL
The Mayor honors naturalization ceremony Presiding Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore
November 17, 2021 -- Twenty petitioners from 12 countries of origin took the oath of citizenship administered by U.S. District Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore at a naturalization ceremony held today at City Hall, hosted by the Mayor and the Department of Neighborhoods’ (DON) Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities. The program featured U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization court proceedings, remarks by The Mayor, Department of Neighborhoods director TaKasha L. Francis, and Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities manager Terence O’Neill, and a presentation honoring Judge Gilmore. In attendance were USCIS representatives, city officials and community partners.
Petitioners take the Oath of Allegiance administered by Presiding Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore
“In fiscal year 2021, the United States welcomed more than eight-hundred thousand people from around the world who chose to make this country their new homeland,” said Mayer Turner. “The process required to become an American citizen is complex and rigorous and often takes years to complete. Taking the oath of citizenship is a solemn occasion for petitioners, for it evokes memories of the sacrifices made during the journey from one’s homeland to attain the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. As mayor of Houston, known for its diversity and spirit of inclusiveness, I take great pride in welcoming our new fellow citizens. To our New Americans I say, one of the most empowering privileges you have gained today is the right to vote. I encourage you to exercise that right and to take an active role in civic and government affairs to help make Houston an even better place to call home.”
New Americans pose, holding their U.S. Citizenship certificates.
“The Department of Neighborhoods and our Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities is proud to work with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials to make this event possible," said Director Francis. "We extend our appreciation to Director Wallace L. Carroll with the local USCIS Field Office for allowing us to have this ceremony at City Hall each year. To our New Americans, congratulations, and may you accomplish all of your goals.”
The newly naturalized Americans hail from Colombia, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, India, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
“To become an American citizen is one of the greatest honors that few are fortunate to experience,” said O’Neill. “We welcome you to Houston, a city that thrives culturally and economically because of the vast contributions of our diverse immigrant population. Please know that our Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities is here to serve you directly and through our extensive partnerships with community organizations and service agencies.”
The Mayor closed the program with a special presentation to Judge Gilmore, who will retire in January 2022 after 27 years of service as Judge of the South District Court of Texas. The mayor proclaimed Wednesday, November 17, 2021 as Judge Vanessa Diane Gilmore Day in Houston, Texas.
The Mayor presented a City proclamation to Judge Vanessa Gilmore, proclaiming Wednesday, November 17, 2021 as "Judge Vanessa Diane Gilmore Day in Houston, Texas."
“Judge Gilmore has had the distinct honor of serving as the Presiding Judge at these solemn occasions across 27 years,” said the mayor. “In 1984, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, making her the first University of Houston graduate to sit on this esteemed bench. Judge Gilmore has served on many nonprofit boards and has made great contributions to our city as an author and advocate for children of incarcerated parents. The City commends her for her many years of public service and for administering the Oath of Allegiance to so many New Americans over her tenure.”
Following the ceremony, League of Women Voters of Houston and NALEO Educational Fund representatives provided the new citizens with voter registration forms and voting rights information.
U.S. Naturalization Statistics - Highlights
- During the last decade, USCIS approved more than 7.3 million naturalizations.
[Source: USCIS, ELIS and C4. Data accessed March 2021]. - In FY 2020, despite pandemic-related closures, USCIS welcomed 625,400 new citizens during naturalization ceremonies held across the United States and around the world. The top five countries of birth for U.S. naturalized citizens were Mexico (13.3% of all naturalizations), followed by India (7.7%), the Philippines (5.3%), Cuba (5%), and the People’s Republic of China (3.7%). These five countries comprised 35% of naturalized citizens’ countries of origin.
[Source: USCIS, ELIS and C4. Data accessed March 2021]. - In FY 2021, ending September 30, 2021, approximately 808,000 people were naturalized, according to USCIS and reported by CNN on November 10, 2021, compared to 625,400 in FY 2020.
[Source: US citizenship naturalizations rebound after pandemic dip - CNNPolitics] - In FY 2020, the states with the highest number of approved naturalizations were California (116,100), Florida (79,800), Texas (69,400) and New York (57,600).
[Source: USCIS, ELIS and C4. Data accessed March 2021]. - In FY 2020, the cities with the highest number of approved naturalizations were Miami (17,900), Brooklyn (13,000), and Houston (10,900).
[Source: USCIS, ELIS and C4. Data accessed March 2021] - In FY 2020, Texas cities with the highest number of approved naturalizations were San Antonio with 3,299 naturalizations, Dallas (6,860), and Houston (2,770).
[Source: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ELIS, queried 12/2020, TRK 6572]
Approximately one-third of foreign-born residents in the Houston metro region are naturalized U.S. citizens compared to 44 percent nationwide.
[Source: Economic Policy Institute Briefing Paper #256, “The Effects of Citizenship on Family Income and Poverty” by Heidi Shierholz, 2010. http://www.epi.org/publication/bp256/]