High School to host over 600 in naturalization ceremonies

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Park Hill High School and U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri will welcome 600 new U.S. citizens during four ceremonies inside the school’s auditorium Wednesday.

This is the first time Park Hill High School has hosted ceremonies. Including these new citizens, the Western District of Missouri has naturalized approximately 2,375 since March 2020. 

The following judges will preside as the candidates take the Oath of Allegiance: Chief, U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Cynthia Norton and Chief, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian Fenimore.

School choir members will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA” at the ceremony. The court will live stream the ceremony, so students and faculty may watch.

USCIS encourages new U.S. citizens and their families and friends to share their naturalization photos on social media using the hashtag #NewUSCitizen. 

USCIS naturalized approximately 625,000 people in fiscal year 2020. More than seven million people have applied online for immigration benefits. To file online, individuals must first create a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov.