WORCESTER, Mass. - Luis Navarro will never forget the national anthem he heard in Worcester Tuesday. Navarro, who came from Venezuela, started his American Dream in 2017 when he came to the U.S.

"Eventually, I was able to attend college, got my degree, and been in the workforce ever since," Navarro said. "It has been great."

Navarro was one of 76 people to raise their right hand and take the oath of allegiance at the Worcester Public Library Tuesday. He describes the move as challenging, but necessary.

What You Need To Know

  • Seventy six people took the oath of allegiance and becam U.S. citizens at the Worcester Public Library Tuesday

  • City leaders are using the ceremony to echo their message, calling Worcester a welcoming city for all regardless of immigration status

  • Residents from across Massachusetts attended the ceremony and became new citizens

"So, my family and many Venezuelans are struggling as of the early 2000s," Navarro said. "The situation over there is very complicated. A lot of economic downfall, a lot of insecurity."

Becoming a citizen has been a decades-long dream for many at Tuesday's naturalization ceremony, including Marele Piento, who came from Brazil.

"It feels like I now have a lot of opportunities and a lot of doors are going to open for me," Piento said. "I can do anything I want I feel like."

Tuesday's ceremony comes at a time of heightened tension in regard to immigration in the country following the re-election of Donald Trump. The President-elect has made immigration one of the cornerstones of his campaign, discussing things like mass deportations, the importance of going through the immigration process, and the strain migrants have had on local communities.

City leaders like Mayor Joe Petty and City Manager Eric Batista are using the ceremony to echo their message, calling Worcester a welcoming city for all regardless of immigration status.

"We have plenty," emphasized Batista. "Plenty of resources in this community, and programs and folks who are willing to commit their time to help with employment, education, and also getting involved in our community."

Some people, like Navarro and Piento, have had long journeys to get to this point. And after getting to take the oath, they say it was all worth it.

"It just makes you feel heard," Navarro said. "It makes you feel that you belong."

"My next step, I want to become a police officer," said Piento.