UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF MAINE
NATURALIZATION CEREMONY CELEBRATED
ON
SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

On September 15, 2023, the United States District Court for the District of Maine commemorated Constitution and Citizenship Day with a special naturalization ceremony. The Hon. Lance Walker, U.S. District Judge, and the Hon. Kermit V. Lipez, U.S. Circuit Judge presided over the ceremony and granted citizenship to eighty-three new American citizens from countries throughout the world.

This ceremony was enriched with participation by the Portland Maine Fire Department Color Guard, students from Holy Cross School, and the Portland Public High Schools Orchestra lead by Julianne Eberl. Also in attendance was Darcie N. McElwee, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, representatives for Senators Susan M. Collins and Angus King; U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree; and representatives from the Maine Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maine, and League of Women Voters of the Greater Portland Area.

The new American citizens came from countries throughout the world including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Germany, Haiti, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, Somalia, South Korea, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Attached are the remarks made by U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker during the ceremony.