INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly 100 people became citizens of the U.S. Monday during a naturalization ceremony held at the Benjamin Harrison presidential site.
The ceremony welcomed 97 people from 32 countries at the ceremony.
It's very exciting. It's been reasonably a very long journey to get to this point and my husband and kids are American and I'm looking forward to being an American too,” said Claire Malbone from England.
She moved to America six years ago to be with her husband. Together, they have two little boys – Phillip and Zachary.
Clare said becoming an American citizen wasn't something she thought about before meeting her husband - but now she's looking forward to her new future in America.
"I'm very excited for it,” said Melbone. “I'm excited to be able to vote and to take a little bit more of a part in the democratic process."
The ceremony included several resources for the new citizens including voter registration and passport applications.
"It means a great deal to them,” said Tim Counts with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “For some people it's mostly symbolic, for some people it's about the ability to vote, for a lot of people it's about the ability to get a United States passport so when they travel there's that confidence and comfort."
MORE TOP STORIES |Stranger confronts woman she says was hitting child in Indy Kroger| Three injured in armed robbery, carjacking in Greenwood | Indiana has a statewide 'Tenderloin Trail' | Police: 9-year-old shot, killed by child with unsecured gun| IPS plans to close Broad Ripple High School, convert Arlington and Northwest to middle schools
