Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). U.S. District Courts hold periodic naturalization ceremonies, at which federal judges administer the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.
Judge Stephanie Bowman Presides at GABP Ceremony
On August 16, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio held its first-ever naturalization ceremony at Great American Ball Park in CIncinnati, Ohio. Prior to a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals, Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman administered the oath of allegiance to 144 new citizens from 43 different countries. “This is an exciting time for you. You present yourself as qualified and willing to become a citizen of the United States of America,” she told the new citizens before administering the oath. Judge Bowman has sworn in more than 7,000 new Americans over her judicial career. “To see them stand on the field and wave the American flag, I mean, that was just picture perfect,” she said of the GABP ceremony.