New citizens sworn in on Independence Day eve in Hammond
'The moment, the freedom,' Haneyah said with a big smile about his new citizenship.
Jose Delgado, who is originally from Mexico, said he was feeling proud to complete all the paperwork required to become a citizen.
'It feels great, it's awesome,' said Delgado, who lives in South Bend. 'I don't have words to explain it. It's a wonderful feeling.'
On the eve of the Fourth of July holiday, 28 people from 19 countries sat on stage of the Wolf Lake Pavilion in Hammond. Those on stage, wearing their Sunday best and holding small American flags, were about to become naturalized citizens.
U.S. District Court of Northern District of Indiana Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi asked those on stage to stand as he called out their country of origin: Mexico, Argentina, Belgium, Ireland, Indiana, Canada, China, Ecuador, and many others.
When the moment came, everyone on stage held up their right hand and recited the citizenship oath. As they received their certificates of citizenship, many of them took a moment to admire the paperwork.
Everyone on stage, Zanzi said, satisfied the requirements for naturalization including age, residency and language. They demonstrated their knowledge of U.S. history and government, as well as 'good moral character.'
'You're not leaving your past behind. You're bringing it with you, towards your American citizenship' Zanzi said. 'As someone who is a first-generation American, I can tell you that's very much true.'
Local, state and federal leaders spoke at the naturalization ceremony to welcome and congratulate the new U.S. citizens.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott said everyone on the stage earned their citizenship 'the right way.'
'Your decision to take the leap to the path of citizenship is not just admirable, it's courageous,' McDermott said. 'You studied, you waited, you filed papers, you stood for interviews, and now you stand here having completed every step by our nation.'
Americans believe in 'fairness and the rule of law, but we also believe in second chances, in new beginnings,' McDermott said.
'There is no denying that today (there aree) those who didn't follow the legal process face uncertainty. In the time of increased immigration enforcement, many who came here unlawfully live in fear, always looking over their shoulder, not sure what tomorrow may bring. You don't have to live in fear. You don't have to whisper your story, you can shout it.'
McDermott said as U.S. citizens those on the stage should be sure to contribute to their communities, give back through their work and vote.
'You remind us all that the American Dream is still alive for those willing to work for it the right way,' McDermott said.
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, said each person on the stage had a different story, background and experience. But, following the ceremony, they stand united with U.S. citizens, she said.
'I am honored to stand here with you as your fellow American. Thank you for choosing the United States of America and believing in its promise. Your presence here today is a testament to the promise of the American dream,' Jackson said. 'You belong here. This is your home. Your voice matters.'
Secretary of State Diego Morales said it was an honor to address those on stage because he became a naturalized citizen after his family came to the U.S. from Guatemala. Morales said he remembers filing out applications, studying for the test and feeling nervous.
'I remember that day when I finally became a naturalized citizen. It is without question one of the best days of my life,' Morales said. 'Today, as you take this final step in becoming officially U.S. citizens, know this: You are not just joining a country. You are joining a legacy of resilience, strength and where your dreams are possible.'
Tony Ferraro, who spoke on behalf of Governor Mike Braun, said since July 4, 1776 Americans have been 'welcoming those from beyond our shores to join our American experiment.'
'It is now my opportunity, as the descendant of Italian immigrants, to welcome you to your own journey here in America and to our great state of Indiana,' Ferraro said.
Kelly Anthony, regional director for Republican U.S. Senator Todd Young, read a letter from Young that said it was an honor and a privilege to welcome the new U.S. citizens.
'America has been called the land of opportunity because every individual, regardless of their background, has the chance to make a new life for themselves and their families,' Anthony said. 'Thank you for contributing to the success of our great state.'
LeAnn Angerman, regional director for Republican U.S. Senator Jim Banks, said the senator commends everyone on the stage for their 'hard work and dedication' in obtaining their citizenship.
'In America, if given the opportunity, if given the chance, you can succeed and that's what sets us apart. It is our freedoms and values that make us a shining light to the rest of the world,' Angerman said.
Mark Lopez, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said each new citizen will bring their cultures and traditions with them to the U.S.
'Becoming a citizen is more than receiving a certificate, it is an affirmation of the commitment to the values of this nation: liberty, justice, equality and the rule of law,' Lopez said. 'Your presence here is a powerful reminder of what America truly is, a nation continually renewed and enriched by the people who choose it.'
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The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Mexico's president calls march against mass tourism ‘xenophobic.' Critics blame government failures
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Near the end of the march, a group of protesters turned violent, breaking the windows of storefronts and looting a number of businesses. In one case, a protester slammed a butter knife against the window of a restaurant where people were hiding, and another person painted 'kill a gringo' on a nearby wall. 'The xenophobic displays seen at that protest have to be condemned. No one should be able to say 'any nationality get out of our country' even over a legitimate problem like gentrification,' Sheinbaum said Monday. 'We've always been open, fraternal.' The frustrations were built upon years of mass tourism and rising rent prices in large swathes of the city. The influx of foreigners began around 2020, when Americans flooded into the Mexico City to work remotely, dodge coronavirus restrictions and take advantage of cheaper living costs. In the years since, choice neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa, lush central areas dotted with cafes and markets, have grown increasingly populated by foreign tourists and the remote workers known as digital nomads, and there are more temporary housing units rented through companies like Airbnb that cater to tourists. As they have, rent and living prices have soared and English has been increasingly common on the streets of those areas. Some groups have described the phenomenon as a sort of 'neo-colonialism.' The Mexico City Anti-Gentrification Front, one of the organizations behind the protest, it was 'completely against' any acts of physical violence and denied that the protests were xenophobic. Instead, the organization said the protest was a result of years of failures by the local government to address the root of the problems. 'Gentrification isn't just foreigners' fault, it's the fault of the government and these companies that prioritize the money foreigners bring,' the organization said in a statement. Meanwhile 'young people and the working class can't afford to live here.' In its list of demands, the organization called for greater rent controls, mandates that locals have a voice in larger development projects in their area, stricter laws making it harder for landlords to throw out residents and prioritizing Mexican renters over foreigners. Mexico's protest comes on the back of a wave of similar protests across Europe railing against mass tourism. Tensions in Mexico have also been compounded by wider inequalities and the Trump administration targeting Latino communities in the U.S. as it ramps up deportations. 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Legislators estimated there are about 2.7 million houses and apartments in the city, but it needs about 800,000 more. But such affordable housing developments that have popped up often are pushed off to the fringes of the city, said Luis Salinas, a researcher at National Autonomous University of Mexico who has studied gentrification in Mexico City for years. Controls, meanwhile, have been marked by lack of enforcement, which developers travel services companies like Airbnb take advantage of, he said. Today, more than 26,000 properties in Mexico City are currently listed on Airbnb, according to the Inside Airbnb, an advocacy organization that tracks the company's impact on residential communities through data. That's compared to 36,000 properties in New York City and 19,000 in Barcelona, where protests have also broken out. 'The government has treated housing like it's merchandise,' Salinas said. The actions the government is taking 'are completely insufficient. 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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani Not 'The Best' to Lead NYC, Ex-Democratic Governor Warns
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The former governor's statement comes as Mamdani leads recent polling with 35.2 percent support, ahead of independent candidates Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams. This internal party tension could influence voter perceptions and hinder Democratic unity heading into the general election, where Mamdani faces challenges from centrist and independent opponents. What To Know From 2008 to 2010, Paterson served as New York governor, accepting the seat after Governor Eliot Spitzer stepped down amid a prostitution scandal. Paterson became New York's first Black governor and the second legally blind one in American history. Paterson's tenure was marked by scandals. In February 2010, reported The New York Times, he was accused of witness tampering in a domestic violence case involving his close aide, with questions raised about whether he and State Police inappropriately contacted a woman who had obtained a restraining order against the aide. 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I truly believe my fellow Democrats will be doing a disservice to the people they wish to serve if they do not come together and decide to support whichever candidate has the most support among them in advance of November 4th." He continued: "We are living in a critically important time in our country's history and the most populous city in America will need true leadership to navigate this moment. That leadership will need to show itself in the coming months, before ballots are printed and voters start returning ballots by mail." Paterson concluded his statement with his final wish for the election: "As public polls and surveys are revealed over these coming weeks, it is my hope and belief that the other candidates still in the race will come to the logical conclusion that New York City needs the most effective leader to navigate what comes next and that cannibalizing each other's support will be doing a disservice to the millions of people who call New York 'home.'" 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UPI
3 hours ago
- UPI
U.S. to send more weapons to Ukraine after Trump's remarks
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Pete Hegseth, U.S. secretary of defense, seen during a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not pictured, in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 7, 2025. During the meeting, Trump said they have to send Ukraine weapons to defend itself against Russia. After the dinner, the Pentagon announced additional U.S. weapons would be sent to Ukraine. Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo July 7 (UPI) -- The United States will send additional weaponry to Ukraine, the Pentagon announced late Monday, hours after President Donald Trump said they "have to" provide Ukraine with more defensive capabilities. Though the specifics of the package were not revealed, the move by the Department of Defense and Trump's comments appear to be an abrupt about-face by the administration, which had announced on Wednesday that it was pausing delivery of some weapons, including air defense systems, to its war-torn ally. "We're going to send more weapons. We have to," Trump told reporters during a dinner at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now. They're getting hit very hard. We're going to have to send more weapons, your defensive weapons, primarily, but they're getting hit very, very hard. So many people are dying in that mess. Trump, who campaigned heavily on being able to end the Ukraine-Russia war within 24 hours of returning to the White House, has been seeking to secure a cease-fire deal, while his pause of weapons deliveries to Ukraine occurred as the Kremlin was hammering its neighbor with air barrages. The future of U.S. support was uncertain under the Trump administration, as Trump has been critical of sending weaponry to the country and is known for praising Putin. On returning to office on Jan. 20, the administration proclaimed that an end to the war would not see Ukraine return to its old borders, an announcement that was criticized as a capitulation to Russia. Last week when asked about the decision to halt some weaponry to Ukraine, Trump responded by blaming his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for having "emptied out our whole country" of weapons. "We have to have enough for ourselves," he said. Trump spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the phone on Thursday, after which the American president remarked he "didn't make any progress" toward securing a potential cease-fire. The next day, Russia bombarded Ukraine with a record number of airstrikes. The statement late Monday from the Pentagon said that at Trump's direction, the Department of Defense is sending "additional defensive weapons to Ukraine so it can defend itself "while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops." "Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities," it said.
