42 New American citizens sworn in at naturalization ceremony at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

News Release Date:
April 25, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.- On Thursday morning, 42 immigrants 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, Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Tamim Nezami, of Afghanistan, was beaming after the ceremony. He was at the event with his wife and three of his four children. He was naturalized today with two cousins, also from Afghanistan.

"It's very important that I became an American citizen," said Nezami who added that he came to the United States in 2017 and has lived here for seven years. "Better life for me, better life for my kids, for our future. I am very happy."

This is the park's fifth naturalization ceremony at the park. Rob Sanders, the San Fernando field office director for the USCIS, administered the Oath of Allegiance. SMMNRA deputy superintendent Jody Lyle offered congratulatory remarks.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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