U.S. Has 127 New Citizens After Naturalization Ceremony on UM Campus

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Elba Zambrano’s five-year journey to become a citizen of the United States ended Friday the moment she repeated the words of the Naturalization Oath read by David Crews, clerk of the U.S. District Court in Oxford.

“Today is excellent,” Zambrano, who is originally from Venezuela, said after the ceremony that was held in Fulton Chapel on the University of Mississippi campus. “Everything is very good. I promise to defend the Constitution. I love the United States.”

Yostin McKelroy, left, stands with her mother, Elba Zambrano, who became a U.S. citizen Friday. Photo by Alyssa Schnugg

Zambrano’s daughter, Yostin McKelroy, and several family members waiting in the back of the hall after the ceremony was over and Zambrano was officially named a citizen of the United States.

“This is amazing,” McKelroy said. “We love this country and we respect it. We believe we stand for everything this county represents.”

Zambrano, 67, joined 126 other immigrants from 34 countries. It was the largest naturalization ceremony held in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District, according to Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock.

After Caitlin Richardson sang the national anthem, UM Chancellor Jeff Vitter welcomed everyone to the ceremony and said it was an honor to participate this year.

“Today you’ve been offered an extraordinary privilege,” he said to the new citizens. “I congratulate you on taking the steps to go through this naturalization process that has brought you to the milestone here today and I hope it’s one that is filled with great joy for you today.”

The guest speaker was Danny R. McKittrick, the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Mississippi. McKittrick said he filled out the naturalization form online recently.

“I was rejected,” he said with a chuckle.

McKittrick spoke of his great-great-great-great-grandparents, who were immigrants from Scotland who arrived in the “new world” in 1775.

“I hope that in 260 years, your great-great-great-great grandchildren will know that their great-great-great-great-grandparent became a citizen of the United States on this day. This is a country of immigrants. I pray you find joy and peace in your new land.”

Mary Sloan, with the Daughters of the American Revolution, hands out American Flags and copies of the Constitution.
Photo by Alyssa Schnugg

Members of the Daughters of American Revolution passed out American flag and copies of the Constitution of the United States, welcoming and congratulating the new citizens.

U.S. District Court Judges Michael P. Mills and Neal Biggers ended the ceremony by urging the new citizens to vote and serve the county by giving back of their time and serving on a jury when called.