With a looming second administration under President-elect Donald Trump on the horizon, concerns surrounding the fate of the millions of immigrants in this country are growing. The soon-to-be 47th president has promised to begin a mass deportation campaign on day one, endangering the 11 million undocumented immigrants across the nation.
But earlier this week, at the federal courthouse in Chattanooga, the threat posed by the incoming administration was set aside.
As reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, roughly 100 people were naturalized and became U.S. citizens during two ceremonies on Monday, as U.S. Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann – all shameless supporters of Trump and his anti-immigration policies – watched.
Naturalization is a years-long process with a long list of requirements: legal residence in the country, a mostly uninterrupted stay in the country for five years or longer (three years or more if married to a citizen who meets certain criteria), the ability to read, write and speak basic English, among other requirements.
Monday’s ceremonies were the culmination of the efforts among the dozens there to swear allegiance to the United States. As said by Judge Nicholas W. Whittenburg, who presided over the ceremonies: “I hope you realize that what you have endured, and your sacrifices to become citizens of the United States, is also a source of pride for this country.”