The number of new U.S. citizens naturalized in Middle Tennessee is on track to rise for a second year in a row. The count could beat last year’s total of more than 2,600.
Audrey Auld smiles shortly before her naturalization ceremony.
Almost every week around sixty new citizens pack a federal courtroom where they take an oath of allegiance.
“I hereby affirm or declare on oath… that I absolutely and entirely…”
Afterward they shake hands with a magistrate before being offered voter registration cards.
Singer Audrey Auld says voting was the reason she wanted citizenship. Auld moved here eight years ago from Australia, where voting is mandatory.
“Basically you have to turn up and get your name ticked off to say that you turned up at the polling booth, whereas coming to a country where you don’t have to vote makes me feel like I really want to vote. I want to participate in this country. Because it has such an impact on the rest of the world.”
New citizens at today’s ceremony hailed from every continent except Antarctica, with several from Egypt, India and Vietnam.
Magistrate Judge E. Clifton Knowles noted some were from countries that don’t welcome criticism. He said this one is strong not only to tolerate dissent, but to encourage it.
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So far this year 2,458 new citizens have been sworn in, with five more ceremonies left in 2011. Last year’s total count was 2,604. In 2009 it was 2,302. Ten years ago the total was 601.
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