WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama delivered remarks at a naturalization ceremony for service members and civilians in the East Room of the White House. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas presented the countries of the candidates for naturalization and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano delivered the oath of allegiance. The audience was composed of service members, civilians and their families.

The President hosted similar naturalization ceremonies at the White House on May 1, 2009, April 23, 2010 and July 4, 2012.

The following service members and civilians attended as candidates for naturalization:

Asau Asanuma, Watercraft Operator, Army Palau

Youssef Benalla Morocco

Jesus Vega Benavides, Corporal, Marines Mexico

Girma Besufekad Ethiopia

Antonella Bravo, Hospital Corpsman, Navy Peru

Elrina Brits, Damage Controlman, Navy South Africa

Julian De La Valle Colombia

Maria De Paz Peru

Kingsley Elebo Nigeria

Liliana Fernandez Bolivia

Nikita Kirichenko, Airmen First Class, Air Force Ukraine

Pertula George Redd St. Lucia

Edwin Alexander Herera Zelaya, Marines El Salvador

Mohammed Hossain Bangladesh

Paulette House Jamaica

Manish Kapoor India

Hyuntaek Lim South Korea

Jiang Lin Liu, Navy China

Faafetai Wiki Mamea, Marines American Samoa

Patricia Marie Marcaida Philippines

Hanna Myroshnychenko Ukraine

Nazo Raoufi Afghanistan

Pascale Reynolds Germany

Brandon Alexander Rheutobottom, Aviation Machinist, Navy Canada

Oscar de Jesus Tejada Urena, Watercraft Engineer, Army Dominican Republic

Roosevelt Antonio Trana Reyes, Corporal, Army Reserve Nicaragua

Pharez Naldo Urian Hanna, Dental Lab Technician, Air Force Bahamas

Long Zhang, Navy China