U.S. Welcomes Dozens Of New Citizens At Ceremony In Camden
By Marcy Norton
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- All over the country on this Independence Day, United States residents who hail from other countries are becoming American citizens, including in Camden, New Jersey, where a naturalization ceremony was held on this special day.
The Fourth of July is a good day to be an American and a great day to become an American. 46 citizenship candidates from 28 different countries climbed aboard the Battleship New Jersey, raised their right hands, and took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Twenty-year-old Syed Aleve came to this country from Afghanistan four years ago.
"America give me opportunity to do everything I want," Aleve said, "but in my country, it's very, very tough to live over there. And I'm happy I'm here."
Nadia Walters of Lindenwold, New Jersey came from Sierra Leone nineteen years ago. She was thrilled the ceremony was held on such a special day.
"I never thought it would be on this day," she said, "but when I got the letter, I'm like, it truly means a lot to me."
After the ceremony, all of the new citizens and their families were treated to a free tour.