Dina Pimentel Rios and 98 other immigrants celebrated becoming American citizens at a naturalization ceremony held at the Carter Center. Pimentel Rios, originally from Guatemala, expressed her joy and gratitude, stating that she had waited a long time for this dream to come true. The ceremony, coinciding with President Jimmy Carter’s 99th birthday, saw individuals from 45 different countries gaining citizenship, with families and friends gathering to share the emotional moment. Each new citizen received a letter from Jason Carter, the president’s grandson and chair of the Board of Trustees for the Carter Center, expressing gratitude and pride for their commitment to the nation.
As part of the birthday celebrations for President Carter, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum offered various activities for visitors, including cake eating and trivia games. The cost of admission was set at ninety-nine cents to honor Carter’s age. During the naturalization ceremony, attendees were encouraged by Sylvia Naguib, the curator of the library, who herself is a naturalized American citizen. Naguib urged the new citizens to fully embrace the culture of their new home, participate in community engagement, and exercise their right to vote. She emphasized the importance of not taking for granted the freedom and responsibilities that come with being an American citizen.
Following the ceremony, Gianluca Saccone, who moved from Italy to the United States in 2013, stood with his loved ones outside the Carter Center. His friend jokingly exclaimed that he had come to America for love, referring to Saccone’s marriage. Saccone expressed his happiness and excitement about his new citizenship, stating that he feels good and is proud to be an American.