News Release

USCIS to Welcome 15 Military Service Members as New US Citizens at Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site

Date: March 27, 2023
Contact: USCIS Public Affairs Officer Paula Grenier, 617-543-5339
Contact: Chris Beagan, 617-876-4491 x 12 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the National Park Service (NPS) will welcome 15 new citizens, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces, during a special naturalization ceremony Wednesday at Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. USCIS Boston District Director Denis C. Riordan will present the candidates to the court. Judge Angel Kelly will preside and the clerk of the court will administer the Oath of Allegiance. Congratulatory remarks will be provided by Jason Newman, superintendent, Frederick Law Olmsted, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Sites.   

The candidates come from the following 12 countries: Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Jamaica, Morocco, Peru, South Korea and Turkey. 

They represent the following service branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: U.S. Army (4), U.S. Army Reserve (4), U.S. Army National Guard (5), U.S. Navy (1) and U.S. Air Force National Guard (1). 

U.S. service members, veterans and their families may be eligible for certain immigration benefits in recognition of their service. Specifically, current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible to become U.S. citizens through naturalization under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Since 2002, USCIS has naturalized more than 158,000 members of the U.S. military, both at home and abroad. In FY 2022, more than 10,600 service members were naturalized.  

USCIS often participates in naturalization ceremonies at museums, schools, libraries and other notable locations to celebrate the conclusion of an immigrant’s journey to citizenship and honor the commitment they’ve shown along the way. This will be the first naturalization ceremony to be held at Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site.   

USCIS and NPS currently have a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), first signed in 2006, that advances the meaning and stature of citizenship by building connections between new citizens and America’s parks. Special venues not only make these events meaningful for those who have chosen to participate in American democracy and dedicated themselves to the country’s future, but they also reflect the strength and spirit of the United States.  

Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site preserves the 1759 Georgian house that was George Washington’s first long-term headquarters of the American Revolution (1775-1776) and later the home of famed 19th-century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family (1837-1950). Just steps from Harvard Square, this historic house museum and cultural institution offers unique opportunities to explore interconnected histories of enslavement, activism, leadership, art, and literature. 

USCIS encourages new citizens and guests to share their naturalization ceremony experiences and photos through social media, using the hashtag #NewUSCitizen. NPS encourages use of the hashtags #FindYourPark and #MyParkStory.
 

WHEN:	Wednesday, March 29, 11 a.m.
WHERE:	Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site Carriage House 105 Brattle St. Cambridge, MA 02138
CONTACT(S):	USCIS Public Affairs Officer, Paula Grenier: [e-mail], or 617-543-5339 Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site Manager, Chris Beagan (email) or 617-876-4491 x 12
NOTES:	Media attending the ceremony are requested to RSVP at the email address above. Media planning to attend may arrive early but should be in place by 10:50 a.m. The new citizens’ naturalization certificates contain personally identifiable information. We request that media outlets not publish/share photos of new citizens holding their certificates unless that information is blurred.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.