SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today celebrated the naturalization of 300 new citizens from 52 countries at the Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Colleen Lawless, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, presided over the ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and I proudly display my mother’s naturalization certificate on my desk in the Capitol as a reminder of the pursuit of the American Dream. I was honored to welcome 300 new citizens today,” said Durbin. “To our newest citizens: you now carry both the rights and the responsibilities of this democracy, and I'm counting on you to exercise and defend them. Together, we will continue to move this nation forward—rooted in shared values and a deep love for this country.”
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“As the proud daughter of an immigrant mother, I know that even though we may come from different countries, we may say different prayers and have different skin tones—we’re here as Americans because we love this nation, and our differences make us stronger,” Duckworth said. “Despite what some folks suggest, you can’t measure the strength of this nation by the size of our defense budget or the height of our border walls. The true strength of America lies in our values—that the impossible can happen to any one of us if we work hard, no matter where you come from—you can rise, rise, rise. Congratulations and thank you for making America more American.”
“It was a true honor to welcome these new citizens today,” said Budzinski. “Their path to this moment was no small feat. It required dedication, resilience, sacrifice, and courage. But with citizenship comes a powerful voice in our communities, schools, workplaces, and in our democracy. In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that we come together to support our immigrant communities—not just here in Illinois, but across the nation.”
Photos of the naturalization ceremony are available here.
