APOPKA, Fla. – This year’s Independence Day held a special meaning for several Orlando-area residents who were sworn in as the newest citizens of the United States.
During a naturalization ceremony at the Hope Community Center in Apopka, 20 green card holders took the Oath of Allegiance.
The new citizens were from 17 countries, including Thailand, where Maya Green was born.
“This is the best. You will never forget this day,” Green said. “I feel like America is a great country. You get to have a great opportunity.”
Green said she decided to become a citizen because she wants to start a family with her husband, who’s American.
I’m proud to be an American,” she said. “I’m happy to be here with my husband and his family and hopefully we’ll build a family here.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 878,500 people were naturalized in fiscal year 2023. Of those,14,000 people were from the Orlando Field office which covers nine counties in Central Florida.
Green said that while it was a long process that included the passing of a civics exam, it was worth it to become a proud citizen of the United States.
“I want to be with my kid here, like, forever and I want my kid to grow up in America,” she said.
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