Jersey City Celebrates Immigrants During National Citizenship Day

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City celebrated National Citizenship Day by welcoming 40 new citizens who took their oaths in Liberty State Park on Friday.

The city’s nationally recognized Immigrant Affairs Division hosts the Immigrant Affairs Symposium to celebrate the shared efforts of community organizations, nonprofits, and city services throughout 2020 and 2021, the third such since the office’s formation. During that span, the Division has been celebrated for its policies as second in the nation for welcoming and integrating immigrants, according to New American Economy Index.

“Being proud of the diversity of your given communities just can’t be a slogan; it has to mean something,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “In Jersey City, we have structured services to ensure immigrants are provided the types of services enabling them to become living and functional members of our community - so much so that their day-to-day lives become indistinguishable to those who were born and raised here.”

Friday's 40 new citizens hail from 19 different countries.

Symposium speakers include Doaa Hussein, a Qatari asylee mother, and Reverend Hilario Crispin. Revered Crispin began his time in the United States as a new immigrant construction worker from the Dominican Republic to becoming a naturalized citizen who leads the Mercy for the Homeless mission at Fountain of Salvation Church in Jersey City.

“I have been blessed to be able to care for my loved ones in my adopted country,” stated Rev. Crisipin in his bilingual memoir, Turning Stones to Bread.