(CNN) Vice President Mike Pence attended a naturalization ceremony for 44 new US citizens this Independence Day, touting the legal immigration system as the administration grapples with adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census and images of inhumane conditions for asylum seekers on the US-Mexico border have captured the nation's attention.

"All of you aspired to be Americans," Pence said during remarks at the National Archives on Thursday morning. "You stepped forward. You followed the law. You went through the process to immigrate into this great nation."

He continued, "The 44 of you and your families are hardly alone. Last year, more than three-quarters of a million people raised their right hand and swore the very same oath that you just took. Your example and theirs gives evidence that then as now, and throughout our nation's history, America has the most generous system of legal immigration in the history of the world and we are proud to have you join our ranks."

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, an immigrant herself, briefly spoke about her family's experience coming to the United States from Taiwan and receiving her own citizenship. Acting Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli performed the swearing-in ceremony.

President Donald Trump, who will commemorate the Fourth of July with "Salute to America" remarks Thursday evening on the National Mall, spent the morning at his Northern Virginia golf club.

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