Nearly 200 become new American citizens in ceremony held in Malden

Mayor Christenson is keynote speaker at formal U.S Naturalization exercise held at Malden High School

By Steve Freker

For nearly 200 of America’s newest citizens, the energy which burst forth from their smiles, fueled by happiness, was buttressed by the power of their newfound pride. This pride was on display not only on the faces of the newly sworn-in citizens of the United States, but also on those of their loved ones and friends, who packed the Jenkins Auditorium at Malden High School a week ago Thursday. Ranging in age from infants to octogenarians, they had come to share in the joy of these honorees, who have now realized a long-held dream.

“I know each of you have traveled here from different places, different worlds and have had different hopes and dreams and different stories to tell,” Malden Mayor Gary Christenson told the packed auditorium, addressing them from the on-stage podium.

“Despite these differences, the bond of citizenship now binds you all as one,” Mayor Christenson, the keynote speaker of the event, told them. “This bond of citizenship will be one of the most important bonds you will have, both here and abroad.

“The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, ‘There is only title more important in our nation than President, that is the title of citizen.”

Mayor Christenson was the perfect choice as keynote speaker by The Immigrant Learning Center (ILC), which hosted the event, considering he holds the top post in a community ranked among the most diverse in the state, as well as the nation.

This was the first in-person event held of its kind in Eastern Massachusetts since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mayor Christenson told the audience the City of Malden, its residents and the Malden Public Schools were honored to host this first in five years, in-person event. The very building in which the citizenship ceremony was held, in fact houses the #1 most diverse high school in Massachusetts – dubbed so once again in the latest polling by Niche.

First-year Malden Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel was also on hand, seated on-stage at the event as well. Mayor Christenson’s words were preceded by a powerful address by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Levenson, who presided over the ceremony that day.

Judge Levenson related a story of his own immigrant status, rising from a family of simple laborers to become a U.S. District Court Judge – “No matter your country of origin, your gender, your power or your wealth, you are all now citizens and you all now have the power to make a difference.”

“This morning you all woke up being from many different countries and different cultures,” Judge Levenson said to the 193 new U.S. Citizens. “Tomorrow you will all wake up as Americans.”

The ceremony is regarded as a federal U.S. District Court session and began with the Opening of the Court by Eric Siebert, Naturalization Clerk for the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.

The Presentation of the Colors was performed by the Malden Police Color Guard. This was followed by a stirring rendition of the National Anthem (“Star Spangled Banner”) by Jeantilus Gedeus, a teacher at the ILC.

After the colors were retired by the Honor Guard, opening remarks were delivered by Vincent Rivers, Executive Director of the ILC. Rivers congratulated all of the 193 soon-to-be U.S. citizens and then gave a brief history of the ILC and its mission to help immigrants, like most of those in the audience, to get settled and comfortable in U.S. society, primarily through teaching them to speak and understand the English language.

Scott Hooks, Supervisory Immigration Services Officer of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Boston Field Office, presented the Government’s Motion calling for the citizenship proceedings, and Judge Levenson ruled the Motion to be in order. Siebert led the newest citizens in the official Oath of Allegiance to the United States, and with that they were officially new U.S. citizens.

It was then that Judge Levenson and Mayor Christenson delivered their remarks, followed by Mahmud Jafri, Trustee of the ILC, helping lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Included in his remarks, Mayor Christenson shouted-out the several Malden High School History/Civics class students who sat through the entire ceremony to see real-life events. Siebert then closed the Court and the new citizens were greeted with hugs and handshakes by their family and friends. Smiles and pride all around, and lots and lots of photos followed.