Feds to naturalize 400 immigrants at Minn. event

Published 7:42 am Thursday, August 26, 2010

Associated Press

ST. PAUL — Four hundred immigrants from more than 50 countries will be sworn in as U.S. citizens at ceremonies in St. Paul.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim will preside over 10 a.m. ceremony at Landmark Center, and Judge Donovan Frank will oversee a 2 p.m. ceremony. Both are organized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Bloomington.

Naturalization is the legal process that lets foreign citizens achieve U.S. citizenship by fulfilling requirements set by Congress. After naturalization, immigrants enjoy most of the same benefits, rights and responsibilities conferred by the Constitution to native-born citizens.

More than 9,000 immigrants were naturalized in Minnesota during fiscal year 2009.