38 New U.S. Citizens Sworn In at Berks County Naturalization Ceremony

On a Wednesday afternoon, the Berks County Courthouse hosted a naturalization ceremony organized by the Berks County Bar Association. Thirty-eight individuals representing ten countries took the oath of allegiance, officially becoming United States citizens. The event was presided over by Berks County Judge Eric Taylor and featured remarks from local attorney Angelica Matias of MidPenn Legal Services.

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Among the new citizens was 27-year-old Juan Velasquez, who arrived from Colombia at age 16 and now works as a tattoo artist after graduating from Reading High School.

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Douglassville resident Roisin Kelly, originally from Ireland, came to the United States through the Project Children program and later settled permanently after marrying an American. She cited the desire to teach her daughter the importance of voting as a key motivation.

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Attorney Angelica Matias, who grew up in Puerto Rico, recounted relocating to Pennsylvania after Hurricane Maria in 2017. She described the transition as “starting over” and highlighted the challenges of language barriers and underemployment before encouraging fellow inductees to view obstacles as opportunities.

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Judge Taylor welcomed the newcomers, emphasizing the United States as a “melting pot” and urging them to honor their heritage while contributing to their new home.

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• “I want to welcome you to the melting pot that is the United States,” — Eric Taylor, berks county judge — Eric Taylor, Berks County judge

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The ceremony underscores the ongoing role of local legal organizations in facilitating naturalization and highlights the personal narratives that enrich the nation’s immigrant tapestry.

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