Fourteen refugees became U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony marking the start of World Refugee Week on Tuesday at the Utah Capitol. The new citizens are from Bosnia, Bhutan, Burundi, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Somalia, Sudan and Thailand.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) From left, Didier Ngendakumana, Mon Tamang, Zainab Masud, and Hawa Gadud take the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony as part of Utah’s World Refugee Week celebration, in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Naima Mohamed, who came to Utah from Somalia, spoke to attendees about her experiences becoming a citizen.
”It took a lot of strength and tenacity to make it this far,” said Mohamed. “The U.S. gave me the opportunity to learn and speak English fluently, to be the first person in my family to graduate from high school, to obtain [a] master’s of social work, and to work as a social worker for the state of Utah in the Refugee Services Office.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Flags are waved to recognize fourteen new citizens at a naturalization ceremony that was part of Utah’s World Refugee Week celebration, in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
More information on World Refugee Week events can be found at https://Facebook.com/UTRefugeeServices.
