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Naturalization ceremony held at MATC
Naturalization ceremony held at MATC
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Despite the ongoing government shutdown, on Thursday, October 10th, a couple hundred candidates for citizenship were recognized as U.S. citizens.
On Thursday at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) a naturalization ceremony was held -- an event many were concerned could be cancelled due tot he government shutdown.
Iraq-born Quasay Tawfiq says after months of filling out paperwork and taking tests, the fact that Thursday's show did go on was a relief.
"I feel like I'm flying!" Tawfiq said.
Kay Leopold is the Field Office Director for U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in Milwaukee -- an office that uses fees to cover most costs. The office remains open, despite the government shutdown, and is proceeding as planned.
"It's business as usual, so this was going to continue anyway, because we're open," Leopold said.
The fact that the office was open on Thursday helped Richard Fallis, who came from Canada.
"If I had to camp outside, I was gonna stay here! Because this is the greatest country in the world, and I want to be a citizen!" Fallis said.
The 211 people who were naturalized on Thursday represented 62 countries prior to taking the Oath of Allegiance.