WHEELING — Thirty six new U.S. citizens — hailing from a total of 23 different home countries around the world — took the Oath of Allegiance on Friday in U.S. District Court in Wheeling.

Family members and friends gathered at the Federal Building on Friday for a naturalization ceremony in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.

The three dozen participants arrived at the Federal Building as immigrants, and they walked out waving small American flags and beaming with patriotic pride. Most of the new U.S. citizens have already been residing in the United States — and in many cases, in the state of West Virginia — for quite some time, taking the necessary steps toward naturalization.

Immigration Services Officer Josep

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