Trump asks newly naturalized Americans to defend “the American way of life”;
Trump says he values ??“the God-given rights of freedom of speech, the free exercise of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms”
President Donald Trump addressed immigrants at his naturalization ceremony with a message that American culture is “theirs to preserve,” according to a new video released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“Today you receive the greatest gift ever given” by human hands: you become a citizen of the United States of America,” Trump says in the video, which will now be played at all naturalization ceremonies nationwide, it was reported.
“President Trump’s message to new citizens is essential, and USCIS is honored to include it in our naturalization ceremonies going forward,” said USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser.
“American citizenship is a privilege reserved for those who respect our laws, culture, and history,” the president can be heard saying.
The video message will be played at naturalization ceremonies across the country, where foreigners take the Oath of Allegiance to become American citizens after meeting all requirements, including following the law, speaking English, and demonstrating allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. In the video message, President Trump describes American citizenship as a “sacred honor” and reminds new citizens that it comes with “the greatest responsibility.” “I welcome you to our national family. No matter where you come from, you now share a home and a heritage with some of the greatest heroes, legends, and patriots to ever walk the face of this Earth,” he insists. The president emphasized traditional values ??and called on new citizens to defend what he describes as the pillars of American society. “In this country, we believe in hard work, a merit system, and equal opportunity. We believe in self-government and a fair, just, and impartial rule of law. And we value our liberty and our God-given rights to free speech,the free exercise of religion and the right to keep and bear arms,” he says.
The message comes at a time when legal avenues for obtaining permanent residency in the United States are narrowing, making naturalization more important than ever for those already eligible.