This is the place to swear in newest Americans — where Mormon immigrants are honored

U.S. citizenship • 152 immigrants are sworn in at ceremony.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata cries as she tells her story of emigrating from Venezula during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance. New citizens are invited to stand and tell of their lives during the event.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Scouts from Daybreak Elementary School lead 140 new citizen candidates and their families in the Pledge of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata wipes tears form her eyes as she listens to the song "Proud to be an American" during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
140 people from over 40 countries become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Judge Scott Matheson, Jr., Tenth Circuit Court, addresses 140 new citizen candidates and their families during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

140 people become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata cries and waves the American Flag as she sings along to the song "Proud to be an American" during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Certificates of Immigration are prepared to by handed out during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday. 140 new United States of America citizens from over 40 countries received their citizenship after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Judge Scott Matheson, Jr., Tenth Circuit Court, addresses 140 new citizen candidates and their families during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Family and friends stand as 140 people become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata cries as she tells her story of emigrating from Venezula during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance. New citizens are invited to stand and tell of their lives during the event. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Scouts from Daybreak Elementary School lead 140 new citizen candidates and their families in the Pledge of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata wipes tears form her eyes as she listens to the song "Proud to be an American" during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune 140 people from over 40 countries become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Judge Scott Matheson, Jr., Tenth Circuit Court, addresses 140 new citizen candidates and their families during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune 140 people become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune New United States of America citizen Blanca Zapata cries and waves the American Flag as she sings along to the song "Proud to be an American" during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. Zapata was joined by 139 other immigrants who become new citizens of the United States of America after taking the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Certificates of Immigration are prepared to by handed out during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday. 140 new United States of America citizens from over 40 countries received their citizenship after taking the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Judge Scott Matheson, Jr., Tenth Circuit Court, addresses 140 new citizen candidates and their families during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Family and friends stand as 140 people become new citizens of the United States of America as they take the Oath of Allegiance during a citizenship ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 17, 2015. The 140 people from over 40 countries became citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· September 17, 2015 7:43 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

More than 150 people from 52 countries became U.S. citizens Thursday at a site commemorating the historic arrival of a previous batch of immigrants: Mormon settlers.

At This Is The Place Heritage Park on Salt Lake City's east bench, 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Scott Matheson Jr. presided over a ceremony swearing in 152 immigrants as the newest Americans, according to a news release from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Those taking the oath of citizenship hailed from far-flung countries — from Albania to Argentina, Korea to Kuwait, Venezuela to Vietnam.

Thursday's event was part of USCIS' annual celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

"This year, USCIS will welcome more than 36,000 new citizens during more than 200 naturalization ceremonies from Sept. 17 to Sept. 23," the news release said. "Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after they fulfill the requirements established by Congress."

In fiscal 2014, the agency reported, USCIS naturalized more than 654,949 immigrants.

This Is The Place Heritage Park salutes, among others, LDS leader Brigham Young and the 1847 arrival in Utah of his Mormon followers.