56 people, from 29 countries, became U.S. citizens at Rochester’s first naturalization ceremony in two years

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – For the first since the beginning of the pandemic, Rochester held a naturalization ceremony to welcome new U.S. citizens.

56 people, from 29 different countries, were honored with a ceremony at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office. They came from Ukraine, Cuba, Somalia, Tanzania, Yemen, Canada, and the Bahamas.

Naturalization is the process that gives United States citizenship to a foreign citizen or national, after that person fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended throughout the years. One requirement is that a naturalization applicant must pass a test on U.S. history and government, and another test on reading, writing, and speaking English.