Citizenship news

Definitive proof ICE and CIS are Mickey Mouse agencies.

The Magic Kingdom will serve as backdrop when more than 1,000 immigrants swear allegiance to the United States as new citizens during a special Fourth of July naturalization ceremony at Disney World in Orlando.

It'll be the theme park's first mass naturalization ceremony, to be held on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle, according to a Walt Disney World media statement issued last week.

The ceremony will be the latest of several recent mass naturalizations, a reflection of the soaring number of citizenship applications being filed in advance of higher immigration service fees taking effect July 30.

Two weeks ago, more than 6,000 immigrants became U.S. citizens at two mass ceremonies at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Federal officials say citizenship applications are skyrocketing in Florida and across the nation, partly as a result of the coming sharp fee increase in which naturalization will cost $595 instead of the current $330.

Emilio González, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will swear in the 1,000 new citizens at Disney World, according to the Disney statement.

Sen. Mel Martínez, R-Fla., one of the champions of immigration reform in the Senate, is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech.

Meanwhile, Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan will sing the national anthem and country western singer Lee Greenwood will sing God Bless America.

A squadron of U.S. Air Force F15s flying overhead will close the event.

How much did it cost to hire Estefan to sing the anthem and for Greenwood to be there? Is CIS paying for this or Disney?

Of course US taxpayers are paying for the F15s. See how well that immigration fee increase is being spent. BTW there were no singers or jets when my wife was naturalized in 1994. (No I'm not complaining about the lack of pomp) Congratulations to the newest US citizens.

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