Day before Fourth of July, 94 people became U.S. citizens in Indianapolis

In downtown Indianapolis Thursday, just as the country turns to celebrate its 249th birthday, 94 people from 33 countries became U.S. citizens. Federal Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the Southern District of Indiana oversaw the ceremony in a packed courtroom.

She acknowledged the larger tension around immigration in the country but said the new citizens have “earned the right to be here.”

“You belong here. You deserve to be here. And we want you here. If anyone ever suggests otherwise to you, you tell them that Judge Barker down at the federal courthouse said that is not true,” she said.

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site hosted the ceremony in previous years. This year, judges moved the ceremony to the courthouse, said Doria Lynch, a spokesperson for the district court.

“The July 3 Naturalization is a U.S. District Court event, and the court determines its annual location,” Lynch said.

The court’s decision to host the event comes as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services decided to no longer partner with community organizations to host naturalization ceremonies at donated facilities, including the Indianapolis Public Library and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.

On Thursday, after the court administered the Oath of Citizenship, a representative of the International Center presented a flag to the group’s eldest new citizen, Carmen Mejias.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Bloomington-based opera singer Sylvia McNair read the Bill of Rights, followed by two musical performances and remarks from several speakers.

Judge Barker said immigrants are vital to the American experiment in democracy.

“So we are counting on you to help us be the country you wanted us to be when you first dreamed of becoming an American citizen,” she said. “We want you to help us be that good.”

After the ceremony, new citizens, their friends and family and public officials had time for conversation and cookies.

The League of Women Voters was on site to register new citizens to vote.

WFYI is reporting on the local impacts of immigration policy. If you want to share your story or have a tip, contact WFYI reporter Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org.