Immigration Services Report: Naturalization Ceremony Conducted Entirely In Spanish
The Center for Immigration Studies notes a couple of blood-boiling incidents at naturalization ceremonies (the event held to swear in new American citizens) in a report issued by the Ombudsman at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The first one involves a judge telling new citizens to oppose the Iraq war:
Inappropriate Religious or Political Remarks. In one judicial ceremony, an official participant of the ceremony made explicit sectarian religious remarks when discussing the origins of freedom; in another, the judge utilized his welcoming remarks to make pointed and partisan political comments. Specifically, the judge stated that persons should “get off their dead [posteriors] and oppose the war.”
Another involves a judge conducting the ceremony entirely in Spanish despite one of the requirements of citizenship being an understanding of English.
Oath ceremonies Conducted in a Foreign Language. In one district with a large Spanish-speaking population, the judge administered the oath ceremony (introductions, directions, speech, artistic presentations, etc.) entirely in Spanish, with the exception of administering the oath itself in English and Spanish. A USCIS official polled the audience, by show of hands, to determine if every applicant present understood Spanish; despite the fact that several persons raised their hands indicating they did not speak Spanish, the presiding judge proceeded in Spanish. While certain waivers exist, no person is naturalized who cannot demonstrate an understanding of the English language.
The CIS says the judges who conducted these ceremonies should be impeached.
I agree.
