Norton to Speak at D.C. Naturalization Ceremony

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will offer keynote remarks at a naturalization ceremony for D.C. residents and their families on Friday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m. Norton said she will be thrilled to welcome new citizens to the District, especially at this time when there is so much polarization on immigration and when Norton's D.C. statehood bill is almost to House passage. Norton has cosponsored over a dozen key pro-immigration bills in the House, including the Citizenship Affordability Act, which makes becoming a citizen more accessible to low-income immigrants. Following Norton's remarks, there will be a photo opportunity with the new American citizens.

"This naturalization ceremony will do double duty because of today's controversy over immigration in the United States," Norton said. "First and foremost, the ceremony is of once in a lifetime importance to these citizenship candidates who will be naturalized and will live in the nation's capital. However, we must also celebrate the renewal of the message this naturalization ceremony offers to our country. Friday's naturalization ceremony will help remind the nation that ‘go back where you came from' has no place in a country that has a tradition of welcoming immigrants, who, in turn, have built and enriched our country."

The naturalization ceremony is where citizenship candidates take their Oath of Allegiance and complete their process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Media attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.

WHAT: Congresswoman Norton delivers keynote remarks at a D.C. naturalization ceremony

WHEN: Friday, July 19th at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (2168), 45 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC