On July 1, 2016, 225 individuals from 55 countries became United States citizens at the New York Public Library! We were one of one hundred naturalization ceremonies going on around the country as part of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' celebration of the 240th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and our nation's birthday. Watch the ceremony via Facebook Live below and read on to learn more of their stories.

Newly naturalized citizens were asked about their experiences and what made them want to become United States citizens, and here are a few of their responses:

"I’m excited that I’m going to be able to vote. This is an important election. A lot could change. People have very different ideas" —Sow, Immigrated from Guinea 
 

“This is the best moment that any immigrant can experience. I feel like a very huge gate has been opened to me. Now I feel that I belong to this country.” —William, The Bronx, immigrated from Ghana

"There are so many opportunities here. I come from a really poor family. Where we lived, there are no schools. I would have had to take a bus for two hours to get to school. And that ride is really dangerous. There’s gang violence, so the ride wouldn’t have been safe at all. Here, I was able to go to public school, and then to college. I got a soccer scholarship. That would have never happened where I was. I would definitely not have gone to college…That’s the biggest blessing to me right now. That I can feel safe with my family here. That I know they will have these opportunities, and I can give them this life. I can enjoy them and not worry. I’m engaged, we’re going to get married this year. I mean. What can I say? This year’s been the greatest.” —Alejandro, Washington Heights, immigrated from Guatemala

“I don’t even know what to say right now, I’m so happy… This country has given me and my family so many opportunities. It’s a great day. Robby, he’s so happy. He called me and said, ‘You finally got it!" —Jose Cano, MLB player and former Yankee Robinson Cano’s dad, immigrated from the Dominican Republic

The New York Public Library welcomes people with diverse cultural backgrounds and celebrates the rich multicultural diversity that builds New York City. We offer a series of programs and services that lend a hand to recent immigrants so they can find their way in the city. Services include free programs and workshops on money matters and computers, English classes, our World Languages Collections, and more.

Find out more about our immigration resources on the Immigrant Services page.

There are an estimated 8.5 million people living in New York City, and approximately 37% of that population—over three million people—are born outside of the United States. Approximately 6 in 10 New Yorkers are immigrants or the children of immigrants.  The Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island—the three boroughs served by The New York Public Library—are home to one-third of the city’s immigrant population.