A naturalization ceremony was held on October 20, 2023, at the Superior Court in Fall River, Massachusetts, presided over by the Honorable Rafi Isayan, Justice of the Superior Court and Regional Administrative Justice for Bristol County. Jennifer Sullivan, Clerk of Courts for Bristol County, welcomed attendees and acknowledged Dr. Natasha Scruggs, Chief Officer of Access, Diversity, and Fairness. The ceremony included the presentation of colors by the Durfee High School JROTC and the singing of the National Anthem by guest soloist Rachel Raposa. Scott Hooks from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service moved to allow three name changes for applicants, which was granted by Judge Isayan. He then moved to administer the Oath of Allegiance to 24 applicants, a motion also allowed. Ms. Sullivan administered the oath, officially making 24 individuals United States citizens. Judge Isayan and Dr. Scruggs delivered remarks, sharing personal reflections on immigration and the significance of citizenship. The ceremony concluded with the Pledge of Allegiance, a rendition of "God Bless America" by Rachel Raposa, and an announcement of a Cultural Appreciation Day celebration on the fifth floor of the courthouse, followed by the adjournment of the court.
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hear ye hear ye hear ye all persons having anything to do before The Honorable Rafi yayan Justice of the superior court now sitting at Fall River for the purpose of naturalization draw near give your attendance and you shall be heard God safe the Commonwealth of Massachusetts please remain standing good afternoon and welcome on behalf of the Superior Court my name is Jennifer Sullivan I am the clerk of courts for
1:11Bristol County it is truly a privilege to be here and share in this special occasion with all of you I truly commend you for all of your hard work and dedication to citizenship I would like to acknowledge a special guest that we have with us here today uh Dr Natasha Scruggs who is the chief officer offer of access diversity and fairness welcome Dr scrubs we really appreciate you being here with
1:35us today so at this time I would ask the dery high school J Roc to present the
1:58colors
2:13colar oh right face present Co
2:36um and now for the singing of our national anthem our guest soloist Miss Rachel Raposa good morning feel free to sing along with me oh say can you see by the dawn early what so proudly we ha at the Twilight last gleaming who Brad stripes and bright stars through the per F or the ramps we was were so gallantly string and The Rock the bombs bur in air get Pro through the
3:45night that our flag was still there oh do that star spangle B wave or the land of the free and the home of the
4:22brave order colors Ready Cut right face
4:43post thank you you may be seated at this time for the presentation of motions to the court I call to the podium Mr Scott hooks from the United States citizenship and immigration service and judge Rafi isayan good afternoon my name is Scott hooks I'm pleased to represent United States citizenship and immigration services within the Department of Homeland Security at these proceedings today your honor there are three
5:18applicants for naturalization present here today who wish to change their name as part of the naturalization process the government has investigated the reasons for these changes and interpos is no objections I respectfully move that all three name changes be allowed the motion is allowed thank you your honor your honor there are 24 applicants for naturalization present here today who
5:43have been duly examined under the immigration and nationality Act of 1952 as amended they have been found to be well qualified for United States citizenship at this time I respectfully moved that the clerk of courts administered the oath of allegiance to all 24 applicants thus bestowing upon them one of our nation's highest honors United States citizenship and this with great pleasure that that motion is
6:09allowed thank you your honor okay can I have all applicants for citizenship please stand and raise your right hands get those hands up high this is the moment you've been waiting for please repeat after me I hereby declare oath that I absolutely and entirely renounce abely en all Allegiance and Fidelity all Al and Fidelity to any foreign Prince state or sovereignty to of whom or which I have heret
6:51for been a subject or citizen subject Cien that I will support and Def defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States states against all enemies both foreign and domestic against all enemies fore and Dom that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States Wills when required by law when required by law that I will perform non-combat
7:31service service in the armed forces of the United States the arm of the United States when required by law when Reed by that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction under civilian dire when required by law when required by law and that I take this obligation freely I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion so help me
8:05God my fellow Americans congratulations you are now of the United States you may be seated and now it is with um honor and privilege I invite to the podium the presiding Justice in this special sitting of the court and our regional administrative Justice for Bristol County The Honorable Rafi isayan for a few
8:40remarks good afternoon and uh welcome my fellow American
8:51citizens you know these ceremonies um we do several of them a year um and they really are the the the best part of this job uh doing this uh working uh with uh clerk Sullivan who is uh very committed to doing these ceremonies as often as we can uh and uh just a round of applause for her she's our our first woman clerk of court
9:19for so um again as a judge um when people come to court they're not usually having a good day um you are a defendant charged with a crime you're a victim of a crime you're a witness to a crime that you didn't want to be a witness too um people are here not because they want to be and it's um it's not always the the happiest day in someone's life to be in court
9:45even on a civil side if you've been injured or you're suing someone or no it's stressful uh and people don't necessarily want to be here this is the one time uh that people do want to be here and it really means a lot for everyone the the the families a joyous occasion uh for once and it really is uh the best part of our job um and it's especially it means a lot to me I came
10:06here as an immigrant so I'm Armenian uh I was during World War I my family fled from Armenia well actually from Turkey um into Syria and then to Lebanon and I was born in Lebanon uh and I came here when I was two so it means a lot uh to me um to see new citizens so uh it's it's a touching day me and it's always a joyous occasion um I'm not going to be
10:33labor I just want to congratulate everybody I know it is a long road you've all worked hard you've studied some of you studied different language um when we came here my father didn't know any English he watched Sesame Street to learn the alphabet you know so um I know the hard work you've all been so congratulations um and again welcome my fellow America thank you judge us um I would also like
11:06to invite to the podium our special guest um Dr Natasha scrug Scruggs for some featured remarks wow I'm sitting over there about to weep I always get so emotional I'm so happy to be here with you today let me just tell you I descend from people who've been in this country for over 300 years I descend from people from across Africa who came at unfortunate times and I'm sure you all know about but I also
11:40descend from indigenous people who were already here the shauny American Indian tribe and the Mohawk American Indian tribe and then I'm also the great great great granddaughter of an ashkanazi Jewish woman who came here from Poland looking at me you don't know all that right that's the American story that's the American story when I look out at you I get so excited especially at the
12:08babies because the step you've taken today is a step in your future and the future of this country don't let anyone tell you differently the wheel keeps turning it's always been turning we've had dark times we have troubles but we also have good times and we are stronger together I'm very very proud to descend from the people who fought for civil rights after being enslaved in this country and one of the things they
12:37pushed for was reform of immigration law that allows you to be here today you have no idea I don't weep for my enslaved ancestors I don't I don't weep for my indigenous ancestors who went through all sorts of Untold things and had their land taken I rejoice in seeing you so I say to you today shukr gracias sure sure thank you for sharing your special moment with me my fellow Americans thank you Dr SC
13:29we will now present the certificates to our new citizens so when your name is called if you could please step forward family feel free to um jump up and take some pictures if you'd like so I would um ask Mr hooks um Isabelle patchman
13:57judan
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15:25Edo Richard
15:56Walker Marie an
16:12Abraham caros
16:27well William Antonio penos
16:44Rodriguez
16:57Andrew conratulations
17:27toala
17:57beia Lisa F
18:13verel
18:27Karina Elvis Alton Bosa
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19:41basilios
19:56okay conratulations
20:10Raymond Antonio
20:20Rodriguez Melvin
20:36last but not
20:57least
21:18once again congratulations to all of our new American citizens and now if I could ask everyone to stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance to our flag I pledge Al to the flag of the United States of America and to
21:57stand um and now for a rendition of God Bless America once again our uh guest soloist Miss Rachel Raposa I'm back I think that um my favorite judge ever judge rafy you forgot to tell them one really important thing that I know you're itching to tell them do you want to tell them before I think no okay let me whatever you want to tell can I tell them yeah sure so you're officially official today
22:34congratulations by the way and now you officially get to be called for jury duty what a day of Celebration this is God Bless America and the last line of this song is um God bless America my home sweet home because this is your home now so when I get to that part if you want to sing it so that the people in Cape Cod can hear you that would be great God Bless America land that I
23:10love stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above from the mountains to the Prairies to the oce with God bless America my home sweet home ready God bless America my home sweet home congratulations
23:56everyone thank you Rachel um and at this time I would ask Mr CER to please adour the special sitting of the superior court but before he does that I just want to let everybody know that we are having um some delicious food we're celebrating cultural Appreciation Day in the courthouse on the fifth floor immediately following the ceremony there will be food music um so please join us
24:23okay um so I would ask Mr PRI to adjourn the session
24:38he ye he ye hear ye all persons having anything further to do before The Honorable Rafi yayan the Justice of the superior court now sitting at Fall River for the purpose of naturalization depart as the sitting of this court is now adjourned God Save The Commonwealth of Massachusetts thank
25:26you