Immigrants from countries around the world will be sworn in as naturalized U.S. citizens just as the United States celebrates its birthday on the Fourth of July.
More than 7,000 people in nearly 100 ceremonies across the U.S. took the oath between June 30 and July 4 in 2016 to become U.S. citizens. Similar numbers are expected this year.
The venues on Independence Day vary widely, but you can watch some of the ceremonies online. Every July 4, a naturalization ceremony is live-streamed at Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president and author of the Declaration of Independence.
Ceremonies have also been held at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, the first U.S. president, who is often called the father of his country.
View an inspirational naturalization ceremony for 100 new citizens this #4thOfJuly: https://t.co/OVtAufGAQo pic.twitter.com/cWwBcyY7KD
— Mount Vernon (@MountVernon) June 27, 2016
The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world. During the last decade, the U.S. accepted more than 7.4 million naturalized citizens. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 752,800 people became naturalized U.S. citizens in fiscal year 2016 (October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016).
Emily Bowman contributed to this article, which was originally published on June 30, 2016.
