Children become U.S. citizens in Carson City

Fifteen children made their own bit of history in the Nevada State Museum Wednesday.

Surrounded by family and friends, the kids ranging in ages from 5 to 19 all took part in a ceremony to become U.S. citizens.

One child each born in Bangladesh, Canada and the Philippines, and a dozen children born in Mexico took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and left with a Certificate of Citizenship.

“Congratulations to the new group of American citizens,” said Peter Barton, administrator, Nevada Museums & History.

Barton took them on a brief trip of Nevada history, including the mass migration here after gold was discovered in California in 1848, and said museums were about memories.

“You’re creating a memory for your entire life,” he said.

The children all applied for N-600 citizenship, which is for children of parents who have already become U.S. citizens, said Cozette Rousell-Barron, supervisory immigration officer, who administered the oath.

The event was one of more than a dozen N-600 ceremonies taking place from Illinois to California in a campaign called Westward Ho!, following a trail of westward expansion.

Next week ceremonies will be held in Parma, Idaho and The Dalles, Ore., and later in Port Vancouver, Wash., Capser, Wyo., and three locations in California.

The certificates enable the children to get Social Security cards that no longer refer to work authorization and to apply for U.S. passports.