Naturalization ceremony scheduled

YOUNGSTOWN -- For the first time since July, Mahoning County officials got to welcome new United States citizens.
A ceremony was scheduled for today in common pleas court to naturalize eight prospective citizens. They are from Romania, Poland, Mexico, Jordan, China, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Latvia, said Diana Slack, naturalization coordinator.
"We haven't had one of these in a while," said Clerk of Courts Anthony Vivo.
Frequency: Since the 1960s, the county has regularly had naturalization ceremonies for immigrants who become U.S. citizens. At first, ceremonies were just once or twice a year and were planned around special days such as the Fourth of July.
About five years ago, the ceremonies became monthly.
In recent months, though, no prospective citizens were forwarded to the county by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Vivo said he's not sure of the reason.
"It could just be a coincidence. I don't really know," he said. In October, Vivo said he could not recall going so long without a naturalization ceremony in years.
Ceremonies were scheduled in September, October and November but had to be canceled because there was no pool of prospective citizens.
Judge James C. Evans was set to preside over the ceremony and administer the oath of citizenship.