“Congratulation! You are now a new full fledge citizens of America,” the Honorable Chelsey M. Vascura, Magistrate Judge, U. S. District Court announced to the 200 new American citizens at the Naturalization Ceremony held Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the YMCA of Central Ohio Welcoming Center, Columbus, Ohio

The newly naturalized Americans represented 59 countries with ages between 18 and 81.

Judge Vascura encouraged the new Americans to use the opportunity of the naturalization to fill the voter’s registration forms provided at the end of the ceremony in order to participate in the 2024 General Election as citizens.

The Guest Speaker and CEO, Heart of Ohio Family Health, Dr Buhari Mohammed told the new Americans that, “you are also following the path that millions have taken before. You are not the first and you will surely not be the last!”

“You have all come because you envisioned the opportunity for yourselves and your families as part of the American dream. If you become concerned, upset or depressed about your community, your new country, my call to action is for you to join an organization to try to make things better.”

Dr. Buhari Mohammed said, “If you are concerned enough to the point that you want to change things, get engaged in the efforts that will make a difference. It will be very difficult to do anything on your own, 50 people who work together in an organization, or institution can accomplish far more than 5,000 isolated individuals.”

“Our superpower as humans is the ability to connect and to cooperate and work together to influence the change, we want to see in the community we live and work. If there is no such organization with whom you may wish to join to make a difference, then simply start an organization to initiate the ripple of energy that will create waves of change to enhance society.”

Dr. Buhari Mohammed heads an organization of over 200 people with 46 clinicians providing comprehensive, essential, quality, and affordable primary care services to over 20,000 residents in Central Ohio.

The USCIS has welcomed 589,400 new citizens and made significant progress in reducing naturalization pending queues, so far in FY 2024.

In July, the USCIS celebrated 2024 Independence Day by welcoming approximately 11,000 new citizens in more than 195 naturalization ceremonies between June 28 and July 5.

“These ceremonies demonstrate our commitment to welcoming immigrants and promoting the benefits of U.S. citizenship for all who are eligible,” according to USCIS.

Each July 4, America celebrates the day the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, declaring that the 13 American colonies a new nation: the United States of America.

USCIS commemorates this momentous occasion by hosting special Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the globe. Throughout these ceremonies, USCIS will honor and recognize the commitment and contributions of our newest U.S. citizens.

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