New Citizens to Be Naturalized in celebration of National Park Service Centennial: More than 100 ceremonies to be held this year at national parks and historic sites nationwide

August 24, 2016

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25 by welcoming 450 new U.S. citizens during 16 naturalization ceremonies at national parks across the country. These ceremonies are representational of the partnership between USCIS and NPS, and are a large step towards our goal of holding at least 100 naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout this centennial year.

“As we celebrate the 100^th birthday of our National Park Service on August 25, 450 new Americans will also celebrate the fulfillment of their dreams of citizenship at some of our nation’s most historic sites,” USCIS Director León Rodríguez said. “At USCIS, we believe that being an American means understanding and honoring our history and the places the National Park Service is charged to protect. We look forward to continuing to welcome new U.S. citizens and protecting ‘America’s Best Idea’ for the next 100 years.”

The NPS has partnered with USCIS on promoting awareness and understanding of citizenship since 2006. Since the launch of the partnership, the NPS has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, the base of Mount Rushmore, Ellis Island, and at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The Illinois State Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park. The memorial was dedicated on October 26, 1906.

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