News Release

48 new American citizens from 18 countries sworn in at naturalization ceremony at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

A newly naturalized citizen poses for a photo.

National Park Service

News Release Date: November 3, 2023 THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.— On Thursday morning, 48 immigrants from 18 countries became United States citizens during a ceremony hosted by Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), a unit of the National Park Service, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. See photos here.

The new citizens are from Afghanistan, Armenia, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Iran, Israel, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Syria, Thailand and Ukraine.

This is the park’s fourth naturalization ceremony at the park. Rob Sanders, the San Fernando field office director for the USCIS, administered the Oath of Allegiance. SMMNRA park ranger Eric Johnson offered congratulatory remarks.

Aziz Ahmad Aziz, originally from Afghanistan, was there with his wife and two daughters. His son, a high school senior, could not attend. Aziz said that he and his family came to the United States in November 2016. He had worked for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan for 12 years, but in 2015, he and his family narrowly escaped an attack from an Islamist militant group. He said the U.S. government assisted them in leaving their country.   

“It’s a big day and I’m so excited,” said Aziz. “Thanks to the American people for the opportunity. I am so happy.”

USCIS and NPS have a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that advances the meaning and stature of citizenship by building connections between new citizens and America’s parks.First signed in 2006, and renewed in 2021, the agreement has led to special naturalization ceremonies held at many of the 400 places safeguarded by NPS across the country, including Ellis Island, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Cesar Chavez National Monument, Cabrillo National Monument, Acadia National Park and numerous Memorial Parks on the National Mall.

The renewed MOU further strengthens collaborative efforts to hold ceremonies at national parks and historic federal landmarks that best represent the strength and spirit of the United States, and the agreement supports the promotion of citizenship and naturalization by USCIS and NPS.  

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.      
 

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