President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush to speak on the value immigrants bring to our country during ceremony.
DALLAS—On Monday, March 18, the George W. Bush Institute will honor America’s immigrant heritage with an official immigration naturalization ceremony. Before America’s newest citizens take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and receive their certificates of naturalization, President and Mrs. Bush will deliver brief remarks noting the significant contributions of immigrants to our society and economy and the importance of border security. The ceremony will be livestreamed here.
Prior to the ceremony, President and Mrs. Bush will participate in a roundtable discussion on immigration hosted by Carnegie Corporation of New York. This conversation includes a diverse group of professionals, community leaders, and policymakers who will share their unique perspectives on immigration through their on-the-ground experience. The roundtable participants include Bush Institute’s Director of Economic Growth Laura Collins, Congressman Will Hurd, a former border security chief, an immigration lawyer, a DACA recipient, among others.
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.
The naturalization ceremony on March 18 complements the work of the Bush Institute’s Immigration program which advocates for smart, skills-based immigration reform. In 2019, the Bush Institute released updated policy recommendations that outline an immigration system that would better serve America and its vibrant, growing 21st-century economy. Visit www.bushcenter.org/immigration to find immigrant stories, debunked immigration myths, and more information about our work.
WHO:
- President George W. Bush, founder of the Bush Institute and 43rd President of the United States
- Laura Bush, founder of the Bush Institute and First Lady of the United States
- Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative
- Approximately 49 candidates for naturalization
WHEN:
Monday, March 18, 2019
10:00 a.m. Program Begins
PRESS: The naturalization ceremony is OPEN PRESS. Media who plan to attend must apply for credentials here. Media interested in attending must credential by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15.
The roundtable discussion is CLOSED PRESS. Some roundtable participants may be available for interviews following the ceremony.
NOTE: This event is not open to the public, but will be streamed live on www.bushcenter.org.
WHERE:
George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, Texas
About the George W. Bush Institute:
Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and an Engagement Agenda – the Bush Institute delivers measurable results that save and improve lives. To learn more, visit www.BushCenter.org.
