Central Valley immigrants become US citizens at Yosemite National Park ceremony
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- Yosemite hosted 70 immigrants from 15 countries in a special citizenship ceremony.
- Ceremony marked the park's first since 2019 and 10th in partnership with USCIS.
- New citizens emphasized voting rights, family stability, and civic participation.
Erika Guadalupe Ramos Hernández was full of emotions when she became a United State citizens this week during a special ceremony held at Yosemite National Park.
“I’m very happy,” said Ramos Hernández with tears in her eyes. “I’m going to be able to vote now. I’m going to have the right to vote.”
Ramos Hernández was among the 70 or so Central Valley immigrants who took the Oath of Allegiance amid breathtaking views of the national park at the top of Glacier Point on Wednesday.
Many of the new U.S. citizens who spoke with The Bee expressed relief and jubilation and said they had urgently applied for citizenship earlier this year.
The Yosemite naturalization ceremony took place amid a federal immigration crackdown that’s part of President Donald Trump’s push to carry out the largest mass deportation in American history.
Fresno resident Santi Bouphavong, who is originally from Laos, said becoming a naturalized citizen “means everything.”
“All the opportunities you get as American citizen you know, you just can’t beat it,” he said.
Scott Gediman, spokesperson for Yosemite National Park, said this week’s event was the 10th naturalization ceremony that the park has hosted in partnership with the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Service to commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
The special ceremony, first held in 2006, became an annual event from 2013 to 2019 before the pandemic halted it.
“It’s the first ceremony we’ve had since 2019 and the biggest ceremony,” Gediman said.
Dustin J. Stubbs, USCIS acting deputy director District 42 in San Francisco told the naturalization candidates that each of them brought with them their culture, traditions and memories from their countries of origin.
“The richness you bring from your individual heritage and the diversity of your background will all be woven together today and added to the story of America,” Stubbs said.
Carmen I. Paniagua, acting director for the USCIS Fresno Field Office, said the new naturalized citizens represented 15 countries: Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, India, Laos, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal and Vietnam.
About 50 of the 70 new citizens were from Mexico.
Melissa W. Maxim, USCIS District 42 director in San Francisco, administrated the oath of allegiance to the new citizens.
“Your presence here contributes to the vitality, diversity, and wellbeing of this great nation,” Maxim told the group. “Be proud of your rich heritage and share it openly with your fellow Americans.”
Ramos Hernández said her adult children, who were born U.S. citizens, urged her to apply to become a citizen because of “what is happening in the country.” She applied for her citizenship in February.
The 45-year-old Fresno resident from Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico has been living in the Unites States for 31 years since arriving at age 14.
There are different ways to obtain citizenship depending on the situation. Under the country’s naturalization process, citizenship is granted to a lawful permanent resident after meeting the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or obtained through a parent’s U.S. citizenship either at birth or before age 18.
Requirements for naturalization eligibility include being a lawful permanent resident for five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen), filing the application Form N-400, paying fees, attending biometrics appointments, and completing interviews and tests. Immigrants who are granted U.S. citizenship are not U.S citizens until taken the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
Luis Manuel Gama Sanchez, a 38-year-old Fresno resident from Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico, said becoming a U.S. citizen was a “big accomplishment.”
Gama Sanchez said he was motivated by his wife and mother to apply, especially given current events.
“I was worried,” Gama Sanchez said. “If you can apply for citizenship, make sure you do it, because it’s worth it.”
Modesto resident Marlon Rendon, who is from El Salvador, said becoming a citizen means a better future for his children and wife, who were also born in El Salvador.
Now as a naturalized citizen, Rendon’s 14-year-old son will automatically receive U.S citizenship. His daughter, however, won’t receive that benefit because she turned 18 a few weeks ago.
Rendon’s wife and his daughter are now in the process of applying for citizenship.
Jesús Torres López said becoming a U.S. citizen means stability for his family.
The Bakersfield resident said he applied for citizenship because “you see the laws are getting a little tougher.”
“I want to vote and be involved in the voting campaigns,” Torres López said.
Bouphavong, 36, who was only six months old when he came to the United States, said he is looking forward to being able to vote.
“You get to voice your opinion and help decide certain matters we have here in our country.” Bouphavong said “It’s maybe just one vote, but everything counts,” he said.
Friant resident Chakriya Vorn was very proud to see her 62-year-old mother Meas Mom become a US citizen. Both are originally from Cambodia.
“We’re very proud and very thankful to this country. We are not born here. We are from different country, but we love this country. We might have a different skin color, but we call this our country,” Vorn said.
The ceremony also included the pledge of allegiance, apple pie, and an audio message from the president.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, some 818,500 new citizens were welcomed in naturalization ceremonies across the county during the 2024 fiscal year.
This story was originally published September 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Central Valley immigrants become US citizens at Yosemite National Park ceremony."
