On June 17, 2020, a special, albeit unique, ceremony was held in Detroit, Michigan, were dozens of Green Card holders took the oath to become an American citizen – without even leaving their cars! Immigrants living in the USA are still becoming American citizens despite the COVID-19 pandemic, however, US immigration judges and other officials have needed to be creative in planning ceremonies that incorporate social distancing and other safety measures. Since the federal courthouse in downtown Detroit was temporarily closed as a precaution, the American citizenship ceremony was held by “drive-thru” in the court’s parking garage. Dozens of Green Card holders from Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Lithuania, Mexico and Ukraine drove themselves and their family members to a certain location in the courthouse parking garage, all wearing protective masks, rolled down their window, raised their hand, and the US immigration judge, wearing a face shield, administered the oath to become an American citizen. Although having a drive-thru ceremony was not exactly how these immigrants had envisioned receiving their US citizenship, they were, nonetheless, very happy to become American citizens and now have all of the rights and benefits that naturalized US citizens are entitled to. For example, some of the newly naturalized American citizens said they look forward to voting in the November 2020 presidential election. Similar drive-thru American citizenship ceremonies have also been held in Phoenix, San Diego and other US cities so that Green Card holders who have been living in the USA at least five years and satisfied all of the criteria can receive their US citizenship, while at the same time avoid large gatherings of people as would normally occur at such events. To read more, click here!