Some of us have acquired our citizenship by court proceedings and thus by privilege. Regardless of its source we share in common the rights and privileges of all American citizens. But. whether by birth or naturalization there is a common bond among us. We are linked by a deep and unshatterable cord which joins us into a mighty nation. We share in common the desire for liberty and the preservation of the sanctity of our human rights. Be it blood by birth. be It blood by naturalization. the passage of time has merged us all into one people. Whether we descend from those who long ago preceded us to this land or whether we are new arrivals. we Americans who have the heritage of citizenship by birth or naturalization. are amalgamated into American might. Together. we represent the sum total which is our America in the community of nations. While naturalization activity is but one of the functions of our Service and similarly only one of your many duties and responsibilities. it is befitting for this assembly to reflect for a moment upon the route and significance of citizenship by naturalization. In our history. we know that in 1790 our Congress established for the first time a judicial way to divest oneself of foreign allegiance and acquire American citizenship. Our legislature decreed that it was necessary to pass through the portals of the sanctity of the courtroom to acquire this privilege. With the passage of time. the naturalization process has become one of the most significant and penetrating acts to be performed by the judge in a United States District Court. To add to the tribute of such privilege which only the qualified may receive. the naturalization proceeding has been cloaked with ceremonial significance which leaves an impact deeply embedded in the soul of man. The sacred trust which the court grants to the petitioner for naturalization remains in heart and mind for a lifetime. The passage of time and increased work loads upon the judiciary. prompted Congress to legislate responsibility upon the Immigration nad Naturalization. Service to process and examine the petitioners for citizenship. Thus. the naturalization examiner of the Service has in fact become an instrument of the federal court. The trust and confidence imposed upon the Service by legislation has been diligently and competently fulfilled. But despite this mandate. citizenship is still granted only by order of the court and it is the culmination of a complete judicial proceeding...
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naturalization Immigration Naturalization