Mount Vernon naturalization ceremony grants US citizenship to 150 immigrants on 250th Independence Day

On July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 150 people from 50 countries were sworn in as United States citizens on the lawn of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. The ceremony, attended by families and held under the historic oak planted by Washington, featured speeches by Anne Neal Petri, historian Douglas Bradburn, and a Washington reenactor, as well as the playing of the national anthem and the Oath of Allegiance. Among the new citizens was U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare, originally from Guinea, who saluted in his dress blues.

The event was highlighted in a related opinion piece reflecting on America’s 250‑year milestone, noting the contributions of immigrants to the nation’s fabric and calling for continued adherence to constitutional values and human‑rights principles.

The ceremony underscores the ongoing role of naturalization in the U.S. immigration system and serves as a symbolic reminder of the country’s founding ideals as it marks a quarter‑century since independence.