AJC Leaders Attend Special Ceremony As Immigrants Take Their Oaths And Become American Citizens

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 13 May 1998

Dozens of America's newest citizens took their Oath of Allegiance today on Capitol Hill before members of Congress and hundreds of American Jewish Committee delegates at a very special and emotional naturalization ceremony. The event was part of the human relations agency's 92 Annual Meeting, taking place through Friday at the Capital Hilton Hotel.

At this ceremony, immigrants from, among other nations, Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Eritrea, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Somalia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela and Vietnam, became naturalized American citizens.

The Oath was administered by Doris Meissner, Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Also taking part in the program were Senator Spencer Abraham of Michigan (R), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration; Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts (D), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigation; and Representative Xavier Becerra of California (D), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

The program, organized by AJC's Arthur & Rochelle Belfer Center for American Pluralism, is one in a series of initiatives AJC has undertaken to address the image of immigrants in American society.

"Our hope at this event, and others such as our recent Immigrant Thanksgiving Observance, is to puncture persistent myths many Americans hold about immigrants and replace them with accurate information about immigrants' positive contributions to our society," said Jeffrey Weintraub, Director of AJC's Belfer Center.

"With this naturalization ceremony, we also hope to stress the sometimes under-recognized fact that most immigrants are eager to embrace and participate in American civic culture. This ceremony is a celebration of everything America has always stood for; the dreams and ideals which have brought so many people to our shores."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org