US naturalizes 15 sailors in Subic

Published November 2, 2010 12:18pm

SUBIC BAY - The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalized 15 sailors onboard US Navy ships deployed from Japan. The 15 new US citizens hail from China, Ethiopia, Great Britain, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Since 2009, they are the first sailors to become naturalized US citizens while serving in the Philippines. Before the sailors could recite the Oath of Allegiance, they had to meet naturalization requirements, such as passing the naturalization test administered by USCIS Overseas Adjudications Officer Cozettee Rousell-Barron. According to the website of the USCIS, the first ceremony, for five sailors, was conducted on the deck of the ship USS Denver on October 13. The second ceremony, for 10 sailors, was conducted the next day in the forecastle of the assault ship USS Essex. Those who presided over the ceremonies were:

USCIS Bangkok District Director Robert Looney, and

USCIS Manila Field Office Director David Roy. The other officials who participated in the ceremonies were:

USS Essex ceremony were ChargÃ© d'Affaires Leslie Bassett from the U.S. Embassy in Manila;

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ron Horton;

USS Essex commanding officer, Capt. Todd Hart, and

the commanding officer of the USS Denver, Capt Mario Mifsud. The USCIS is committed to providing immigration services for US armed forces members and their families in the United States and abroad. For 2010, USCIS Bangkok District officers presided over naturalization ceremonies for service members and their families in Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and on board Navy vessels at sea. â€“VVP, GMANews.TV

Tags: unitedstates, subic, immigration