Kids become citizens at Queens Center Mall

Queens celebrated some of its youngest and newest American citizens during an annual naturalization ceremony held at Queens Center Mall on Friday, June 13 in honor of Flag Day.
“Today we are joined once again to celebrate the faces of America and to welcome with great anticipation our newest American citizens…,” said Queens Center Senior Marketing Manager Dawn Simon. “These beautiful faces before us today will soon be woven into the fabric of our great American country and for that we stand proud.”
A total of 25 children between the ages of two and 15 participated in the ceremony. Among the countries they represented were Bangladesh, Togo, Guyana, Yemen, Morocco, Haiti, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Egypt, China and the Philippines.
The children took their oath of allegiance and later recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem.
“We welcome you today, our newest brothers and sisters, to the spirit of America and we encourage you to wear the red, the white, and the blue with dignity, with honor and with pride,” Simon said.
Rafeeza Hydar, a resident of Ozone Park, said that it was very nice to see her 8-year-old daughter Ameena receive her American citizenship. Ameena said that she was very happy and proud, and that the best part of the ceremony was receiving her citizenship certificate.
Woodside resident Mohammed Islam’s son Nahiyan, 6, also received his citizenship during the June 13 ceremony. Islam said that it was very exciting and he felt it was important in order to give his son the same rights that other American citizens have.
Originally from Morocco and now living in Astoria, 5-year-old Amine Ben Mouloud also received his citizenship.
“Of course we’re very happy and really proud of him,” his father, Youssef, said. “I wanted him to get a better life.”