The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which 20 petitioners became United States citizens. The Honorable Darrel J. Papillion, U.S. District Judge, presided over the June 24 ceremony. He welcomed and congratulated the petitioners and invited everyone to stand for the playing of the National Anthem by the Marine Forces Reserve Band and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, led by representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Judge Papillion then invited Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld to provide remarks. Judge van Meerveld spoke of her journey being naturalized 39 years ago at the very courthouse where she would later be appointed a magistrate judge. She reminded petitioners that there are no second-class citizens in America and that they all now have the same rights afforded to native-born Americans.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Schreiber then issued the statement of petitioners’ eligibility for citizenship and presented petitioners’ requests for name change. After granting the requests for name change, Judge Papillion invited the petitioners to announce their names and countries of origin before he administered the Oath of Allegiance. Petitioners were then given their certificates and took pictures with Judge Papillion and their families.

To view photos from the ceremony, please select this link.