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Quick Bytes
- Over 2,000 immigrants became U.S. citizens in Houston’s historic naturalization ceremony.
- Houston is on track to be the “Citizenship Capital” with a significant number of naturalized citizens.
- Naturalized citizens in Houston contribute substantially to the economy with increased earnings and spending power.
Houston Welcomes New Citizens in Monumental Ceremony
In a remarkable display of resilience and community spirit, Houston celebrated the naturalization of over 2,000 immigrants.
Despite a severe heatwave and power outages from Hurricane Beryl, the NRG Arena in Houston was the site of a historic naturalization ceremony on July 10. A diverse group of 2,286 individuals from 121 countries, including armed forces members, pledged their allegiance to the United States. The event was attended by American Immigration Council organizers Chelsie Kramer and Michael Treviño, who highlighted the positive impact of immigrants on the city.
Houston, with immigrants making up 24% of its population, is becoming known as the “Citizenship Capital” of the U.S. The city’s naturalized citizens, already over 700,000 strong, contribute significantly to the local economy. In 2021, these households earned $66.5 billion, paid $16.3 billion in taxes, and held $50.2 billion in spending power. Naturalization also boosts individual earnings by an average of 8.9%, further supporting economic growth.
Statewide, immigrants constitute 17.2% of Texas’ population, with nearly 43% being naturalized citizens as of 2022. The recent ceremony’s participants are part of the nearly 790,000 Texans eligible for naturalization. The American Immigration Council emphasizes the importance of supporting eligible immigrants in their journey to citizenship, recognizing the benefits for both individuals and communities.
Image credit for the main event goes to Harris County Precinct 2 / Alonzo Guadarrama.
Image Credits
- Harris County Precinct 2 / Alonzo Guadarrama: Main image of the naturalization ceremony.
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