The good side of immigration was on display at the Bexar County Courthouse, as 37 people from 18 countries raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Most of the new Americans are from Mexico, but others are from Germany, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, and other nations.
"Its just amazing how here in San Antonio, fifty, sixty, seventy countries are being recognized," U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguiez, who swore in the new Americans, told News Radio 1200 WOAI.
All of them arrived in the U.S. legally, and went through the legally mandated process of becoming citizens.
"They put in a lot to get to this point and this is the culmination of it all," Judge Rodriguez said. "I am just pleased to be part of it."
Not a single one of the new citizens were separated from their children or were housed in camps during their path to citizenship.