Story perspectives

Chicago Naturalization Ceremony Swears in 97 New Citizens

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

97 people were sworn in as U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building.
District Judge Thomas M. Durkin presided over the ceremony while Rep. Sean Casten (D-Illinois) attended and congratulated the new citizens.
Participants hailed from 34 countries, a drop from the same period last year.
The Northern District of Illinois recorded 19,248 naturalizations through July and 4,467 this year, both lower than the previous year.

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Story summary

97 people were sworn in as U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building.
District Judge Thomas M. Durkin presided over the ceremony while Rep. Sean Casten (D-Illinois) attended and congratulated the new citizens.
Participants hailed from 34 countries, a drop from the same period last year.
The Northern District of Illinois recorded 19,248 naturalizations through July and 4,467 this year, both lower than the previous year.