Indian American congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who is currently serving as the U.S. representative from Washington’s 7th congressional district, wrote on X about speaking before new American citizens following their naturalization ceremony.
“Today, I had the honor of speaking before 252 of the newest American citizens at their naturalization ceremony in Seattle as we celebrate the Fourth of July,” Jayapal wrote. “Their unique perspectives, cultures, and stories are a gift to this nation.”
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“The American identity is uniquely tied to generations of immigrants like you who made courageous journeys to a new country,” Jayapal said in a video clip attached to the X post.
“Some of you escaped war or persecution. Some have survived drought, famine, or economic devastation. All of you came for a better life. A dream of opportunity for yourselves, your children, and your grandchildren.”
This comes amid ongoing debate on immigration and citizenship. Recently, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, calling the ruling a reaffirmation of constitutional protections under the 14th Amendment.
The naturalization process has also reportedly become more difficult under the Trump administration with longer waits, tougher citizenship testing standards and high filing fees. New citizens have said taking the naturalization oath carries a sense of relief amid increasing uncertainty.
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“It’s survival,” said Dahni Tsuboi, chief executive officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSocal), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides citizenship application workshops, advocacy and legal services.
Jayapal had recently said that while she disagrees “with everything that this administration is about,” she is celebrating this July 4th. “That promise that I held my hand up to is still just as real today despite Donald Trump. Maybe, in fact, because of Donald Trump, it is more important that we fight for that,” she told MS NOW.
Jayapal said it was “heartbreaking” to see the president’s Freedom 250 group effectively hijack the country’s birthday. “It’s really heartbreaking for me to see what this Trump celebration has turned into,” she said. “It’s not a celebration of America. … It is very much about him. It is not about the country that we have built and that we are building, and that was the promise that we’re working towards.”
“I’m proud to be an American, very proud and very lucky,” she told MS NOW. “And I feel a huge responsibility to pay it forward and to make sure that other people have opportunity, not just those who are coming here, but those who are here who also have been working for that more perfect union.”