As immigration crackdowns expand across the country and in Chicago, those becoming U.S. citizens on Wednesday took an oath for family, freedom and hope.
Nearly 100 candidates from more than 40 countries became U.S. citizens Wednesday at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago. It's the same date the constitution was signed back in 1787.
In large courtroom, a group of America's newest citizens took an oath to uphold the document that defines the country's democracy.
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Bhavesh Patel from India reflected on what that means for him.
'We will remember this day for sure, because it's my new birth in America today," Patel said.
The ceremony was steeped in tradition - flags, patriotic music, and a federal judge administering the oath.
Judge Gabriel Fuentes also encouraging the crowd to be active participants in the democratic process.
"It means a lot to me because I'm going to take this seriously," said Akwi Mono from Cameroon. "I'm going to take his advice. It meant everything for me."
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"I love it. I want to be part of it," said Kelechi Adiegwu from Nigeria. "I want to vote, I want to contribute to my community, too."
For new U.S. citizen David Ruiz, this happy moment comes during a sharply divided political climate.
"It's unsettling," Ruiz said. "It's sad to see families getting torn apart and rights being violated for people who have lived here most of their lives
For Lilian Carbajal, who came to America 20 years ago from Guatemala, she's thankful she's officially a citizen of her adopted homeland.
"I just feel this weight lifted and freedom of being here and living the American dream," Carbajal said.
A total of nearly 23,000 people from the Chicago area have been sworn in as US citizens this year in hundreds of ceremonies. Two are taking place today here at the Dirksen federal building.