Naturalization ceremony produces new citizens
LAS CRUCES — Mario Lupercio, 21, immigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was 6 years old. He’s spent his life since in Roswell.
But it wasn’t until Friday that he became a citizen.
Lupercio was one of 107 people from across southern New Mexico who participated in a naturalization ceremony at the Ramada Palms hotel in Las Cruces.
“It’s a great feeling,” Lupercio said. “A lot of doors open up — a lot more job opportunities. I was wanting to become a police officer, and this is one of the requirements.”
Indeed, Lupercio planned to waste no time putting his new citizenship to use. He said he had a 3 p.m. Friday deadline to submit proof of his new status to the Roswell Police Department, as part of his application to join the training academy.
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Immigrants were represented from the following countries:
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• Guatemala
• India
• Iraq
• Kenya
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• The Phi