Lincoln welcomes 15 new citizens in first naturalization ceremony of the year

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The federal courthouse in Lincoln welcomed 15 new U.S. citizens on Friday in the first naturalization ceremony of the year for the capital city.

One of the new citizens, Laura McCullagh, said that all of her children were born here and are U.S. citizens.  She felt that submitting her application was the next step to take after being in the United States for 13 years.

Despite her attempts to keep the ceremony a secret, McCullagh’s friends and family waited outside of the courthouse to greet her after the ceremony came to a close.

“I’m more emotional than I thought I was going to be, but it’s definitely a huge relief and a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and I’m really excited and happy,” McCullagh said.

The next naturalization ceremony in Lincoln will be in July.

U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard noted that the naturalization ceremony in December was particularly special, with four sisters and a father and his sons becoming citizens together.

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