About 250 new U.S. citizens sworn in at Arizona ceremony
Jul 4, 2012, 12:13 PM | Updated: 12:16 pm
PHOENIX – After the swearing in ceremony, a big cheer went up at South Mountain Community College as United States District Judge Roslyn Silver welcomed the new citizens with the words “And now you are we the people.”
The new citizens come from 62 different countries.
Janet Rivera, originally from Mexico, was overwhelmed.
“I’m so happy, so glad to be a citizen and July 4th is a very important day,” she said. “I want to be part of the United States.”
Gerard Telemaqe, originally from from Haiti, said being an American citizen is all that he ever dreamed of.
“It wasn’t an easy process and this is just a proud day,” he said.
About 20,000 people become new U.S citizens each year in Arizona.
