New Citizens Sworn In After Year of Hurdles

Despite a year of obstacles and changes to the U.S. naturalization process, hundreds of people became new American citizens this month. Three recent ceremonies in the Washington, D.C. area were largely celebratory. They represent what some call an "ultimate act of inclusion" for immigrants. The process to become a citizen, known as naturalization, faced administrative delays and policy shifts over the past year. These changes created challenges for many applicants. Nevertheless, the new citizens took their oaths of allegiance. For them, the final outcome outweighed the difficulties of the journey.