Video: Minnesotans joyously embrace their new US citizenship at State Fair

Kelsey Christensen KSTP
Wednesday August 30, 2023

The Minnesota State Fair is an annual event that truly embodies the essence of Minnesota, and what better way to honor the fair than by officially attaining citizenship?

On Monday morning, a group of approximately 25 individuals participated in a naturalization ceremony, marking their official status as American citizens.

This is the first time that the fair has hosted naturalization ceremonies.

After taking the oath of allegiance, these new citizens now have the privilege to vote, obtain a passport, hold public office, and receive federal benefits.

One of the new American citizens, Loly Aldana from Venezuela, expressed her emotions, stating, “It was an incredibly emotional experience, and I feel so embraced. My husband and I came to this country 19 years ago for his studies, and we decided to make it our home. Finally, we have attained our citizenship, and we couldn’t be happier.”

While Monday morning’s ceremony marked the final step in the process, there was a significant amount of preparation leading up to it.

In order to become a U.S. citizen, individuals must be permanent residents for a minimum of five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen). They also need to obtain a permanent resident card, also known as a “Green Card.”

The U.S. District Court reveals that the countries most represented among the newest citizens are Somalia, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Burma, and Kenya.

Another naturalization ceremony is scheduled to take place at the fair on Wednesday morning.