America's Newest Citizens Ushered in Around MLK's Birthday

Swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens are often held around patriotic holidays like July 4, but for the first time the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has decided to hold an event around another patriotic holiday, albeit one that doesn't necessarily get the credit it deserves: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

"His work paved the way for me to become a citizen," Nigerian immigrant Emakoji Ayikoye told The Associated Press on Thursday, the same day he recited the citizenship oath. "Without him, there is absolutely no way I would become a citizen today."

The USCIS seems to agree, and held several naturalization events on Thursday, and many more are scheduled for Friday — on what would have been MLK's 81st birthday — including one in Atlanta featuring a speech by Bernice King, MLK's daughter.

"When we greet new citizens into the United States we speak of the open opportunities that our country presents to everyone around the world who qualifies for the benefits our agency administers," said Alejandro Mayorkas, the USCIS director. "Martin Luther King helped define those hopes and opportunities for everyone."

Scholars point out that the civil rights movement MLK helped to lead coincided — and aided — immigration reform. For example, the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965 declared that all countries get the same number of visas, whereas before the US seemed to favor folks from places like northern Europe. (See, pretty direct correlation to civil rights — right?)

So, congratulations to America's newest citizens, and welcome to a country that Dr. King helped to improve.

Photo courtesy of the US Navy via Wikimedia Commons.