Dutchess Welcomes Dozens Of New Citizens At Poughkeepsie Ceremony

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Dutchess County welcomed dozens of new United States citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Poughkeepsie last week.

More than 50 people from 35 countries were sworn in as United States citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Dutchess County last week.
Photo Credit: *Dutchess County Government/Twitter*

K Reakes

02/15/2016 6:00 a.m.

Dutchess County Clerk Bradford H. Kendall held the naturalization ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to over 50 people representing 35 countries.

James V. Brands, Dutchess County Supreme Court justice, presided over the ceremony, and Wayne Nussbickel, president/CEO, N&S Supply, delivered the keynote address.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processes all naturalization applications and provides the clerk’s office with a list of the candidates selected to be naturalized. All petitioners must then participate in a naturalization ceremony and swear to the Oath of Allegiance in a formal court proceeding. At that time, they can change their names legally to have their new names appear on the Certificate of Naturalization.

In Dutchess County, naturalization ceremonies are held six times throughout the year to induct new citizens.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro helped welcome the new residents after they were sworn in.

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