Dozens of new U.S. citizens take Oath of Allegiance ahead of July 4

Naturalization ceremony held at Miami Dade College's Tower Theater

MIAMI ā€“ Dozens of new U.S. citizens took the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony Thursday in Miami.

The ceremony was held at 11 a.m. at Miami Dade College's historic Tower Theater.

The group of new citizens were from 19 different countries and were joined by family and friends.

"It's really special," said Philip Gray. "I've been here in this country for 18 years and finally I'm going to become a citizen."

Special guests who attended the event included U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-Fla., and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

"I think this is so emblematic of the growth of Miami, fueled by new immigrants who have made Miami their home," Ros-Lehtinen said.

The location of the ceremony has a historic significance, as the Tower Theater opened in December 1926, branding itself as the first state-of-the-art theater in the South. In the early 1960s, it also became the first theater in Miami to show American films with Spanish subtitles.

Click here for more information about the Tower Theater.

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