College of Law Hosts U.S. Citizenship Naturalization Ceremony for 34 New American Citizens

Syracuse Law faculty, staff, students, along with friends, families, and dignitaries from the Syracuse area helped welcome 34 new American citizens at a U.S. Citizenship Naturalization ceremony in Dineen Hall.

The new citizens, representing 18 nations, were sworn in by the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’92, Chief Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York. Several active-duty military service members wore their uniforms as they became citizens.

“These ceremonies are so important and so beautiful and so meaningful to me,” Dancks said. “I consider my service to the court as my personal love letter to my community and to my country, and I consider myself deeply patriotic.”

The ceremony featured remarks from College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98, Gladys McCormick, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Professor of History and the Jay and Debe Moskowitz Endowed Chair in Mexico-U.S. Relations at Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Patricia Cardona L’20, an Immigration Attorney at the Cardona Law Firm.

“This moment holds deep personal meaning for me. I stood where you stand today in 1999, one year after graduating from this law school, taking the Oath of Allegiance and becoming an American citizen. I know the mixture of pride, gratitude, and anticipation you feel. The journey that brought you here, from distant homelands, through challenges and perseverance, now culminates in this transformative moment,” said Dean Terence Lau L’98.