In what’s a usually quiet and restrained space, cheers and applause rang out in an American flag-adorned courtroom as immigrants became official United States citizens in a ceremony Wednesday.
New U.S. citizens attend a Naturalization Ceremony at the United States District Court in Billings on Wednesday. Citizens of 15 countries attended the morning ceremony with 18 different countries represented in an afternoon ceremony.
LARRY MAYER, Billings Gazette
About 50 people were naturalized during two separate ceremonies filled with friends and families. Citizens came from all six regularly inhabited continents including several from Mexico, Canada, Germany, the Philippines and China.
The ceremony was presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan. Cavan congratulated the citizens for the culmination of what is often a years-long process for them.
United States