During the eight day period of September 14-22, 158 naturalization ceremonies were held across the United States at which more than 32,000 people became citizens of the United States. The ceremonies were designed to commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day which falls on September 17. Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.The Constitution was then sent to the original 13 states for ratification.

In 1952, President Harry Truman signed “Citizenship Day” into law. The original day was marked as the third Sunday in May. In 2004 Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, championed an amendment that became law which combined both commemorations on September 17.

Among the participants in the various ceremonies around the country, Secretary Napolitano took part in a special naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), officiated at a children’s citizenship ceremony in Los Angeles.

Secretary Napolitano said: “There is no better time than Constitution Week to highlight the rights, responsibilities and importance of U.S. citizenship, and recognize the many contributions immigrants have made to this great nation. These naturalization ceremonies celebrate our longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants who come here from across the world, to seek a better life for themselves and their families, and to contribute to our country.”