MAYOR GIULIANI HOSTS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AS FIRST 12 "CITIZENSHIP NYC" APPLICANTS BECOME CITIZENS
Octogenarians and Nonagenarians Become Proud New Citizens
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today hosted a City Hall swearing-in ceremony for the first twelve applicants processed through "Citizenship NYC"--a mayoral initiative targeted at helping elderly and disabled legal immigrants to become naturalized citizens. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) District Director Edward J. McElroy administered the Oath of Allegiance to the men and women whose ages range from 76 to 92 years. The new citizens are natives of Russia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Cuba and Peru.
The Mayor was joined at the ceremony in City Hall by Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra, who oversees the implementation and operation of "Citizenship NYC" and Commissioner Martin Oesterreich from the Department of Youth and Community Development, the agency that conducts the day to day administration of the program.
"Today we celebrate the culmination of your dreams as immigrants and I congratulate you on this important achievement," Mayor Giuliani said. "I am inspired by the fact that, in your golden years, you have successfully completed a complicated process and earned your citizenship. It shows how much you love this country and sets a fine example for younger New Yorkers.
"Today marks a new beginning for you as you become citizens of the United States and the City of New York. That officially makes each of you one of the people whose ideas, energy and values will determine the future of this City and this country.
"Here in New York City, we know the value of immigration. Just as they did years ago, immigrants today revitalize and reinvigorate the culture and the economy of our cities and states."
Deputy Mayor Segarra noted, "You are the first individuals to become citizens with the help of 'Citizenship NYC' and we are very proud of that. We are also grateful to the partnership this program has forged with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This initiative continues to demonstrate this administration's commitment to assist the immigrant communities and acknowledge the important roles they play in our society. I trust that through 'Citizenship NYC' we will continue to provide increased support services to immigrants in order to facilitate the naturalization process and bring it to successful completion."
INS District Director Edward McElroy stated, "We welcome these new citizens and wish them all the best as they continue making a contribution to the greatest country in the world."
The "Citizenship NYC" initiative was announced by Mayor Giuliani in May 1997 as an aggressive and comprehensive response to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act that stood to pose dire consequences for the City and thousands of its residents.
The program model had four objectives: to reach the population deemed most at risk (with special emphasis on SSI beneficiaries and Food Stamp recipients); to process naturalization applications in an expeditious manner; to enhance and provide increased support services to immigrants to facilitate the naturalization application process and to track naturalization applicants throughout the entire process to successful completion.
Six Citizenship centers have been established in communities with large numbers of legal immigrants. A full-time telephone bank is fully operational with 24 multi-lingual operators. The telephone number is 1-888-374-5100.
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