The Daily Advertiser

Fifteen people from eight countries became U.S. citizens Monday in Lafayette in a naturalization ceremony recognizing Constitution Week and Citizenship Day.

The newest American citizens who took the Oath of Allegiance on Monday are from China, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Laos, Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam.

This ceremony is part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' annual celebration of Constitution Week, recognized this year from Sept. 14 to 23, and Citizenship Day, marked on Sept. 17. USCIS will welcome almost 45,000 new citizens at more than 260 naturalization ceremonies during the weeklong observance.

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In Lafayette, the ceremony was held at 11 a.m. at Dupre Library on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

During Constitution Week USCIS celebrates the connection between the Constitution and citizenship and encourages all Americans to reflect on what it means to be a citizen of the United States.