On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) Office presented 26 local immigrants before United States District Court Judge Edward F. Shea in Richland to be sworn in as new U.S. citizens.   The new citizens come from 7 different Countries: Columbia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Jamaica, Mexico and Russia.
 
Sukhee Kang, Regional Administrator for GSA’s Pacific Rim and Northwest/Arctic Regions was our guest speaker.  Born and raised in South Korea, Mr. Kang and his wife immigrated to the United States in 1977.  As a first generation immigrant who became a naturalized citizen in June 1985, he shared his American story with the newly sworn citizens offering words of inspiration, encouragement and congratulations. Mr. Kang is a businessman, civic leader and former city council member and two-term mayor of Irvine, California.
 
The Chiawana High School Choir, led by director JoLyn Glenn, beautifully performed two songs at the ceremony, The Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful.
 
The Washington League of Women Voters was present to register the new citizens to vote. The Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a reception after the ceremony. New citizens were given an American Flag pin from the Sons of the American Revolution.