New citizens listen to federal Judge Janet Bostwick speak during a naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Massachusetts became home to new U.S. citizens on Monday. The right hands of 263 people rose as they swore the Oath of Allegiance during a ceremony at Faneuil Hall.
These new citizens come from 59 countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, Iran, Ireland, Ukraine and Vietnam.
"Today, we celebrate you joining our nation — our nation which is one of immigrants, whether they arrived this year where they arrived generations ago or even a couple of years ago," said federal Judge Janet Bostwick.
Naturalization applicants stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Resla Augustin of Haiti and Beatriz Miwa of Brazil, both in the Army National Guard, stand and take the Oath of Allegiance. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)A naturalization applicant stands and waves a small American flag after hearing the name of his home country. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Alina Gomes, originally from Cape Verde, claps while holding an American flag during the ceremony. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Two small American flags sit in the front pocket of naturalization applicant Luis Rubio of El Salvador. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Parid Frakulla hands his 8-month-old son Dei Frakulla an American flag. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
