MIAMI BEACH — At a citizenship ceremony today, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez welcomed eight City of Miami Beach employees and their families as new U.S. citizens.
These employees from Sanitation, Public Works, Parking, Ocean Rescue, Community Services and Tourism, Culture & Economic Development joined Director Rodriguez and City Manager Jimmy Morales for a ceremony in the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens.
One of the first cities to sign on to New American Workforce, a program of the National Immigration Forum, the City of Miami Beach is also the first partner to fully fund the application process for each employee.
“My number one priority is this city, including the employees who make it thrive,” said City Manager Jimmy L. Morales. “I am excited to have helped our citizenship-eligible employees with the application process so that they can become full participants in their workplace, community and economy.”
“Very few people are lucky enough to be employed by an organization as supportive as the City of Miami Beach,” said 16-year employee veteran Carmela Chiovaro who was sworn today along with her husband. “I committed to living in the United States 33 years ago, and until now have been unable to finalize my citizenship process. Because of the city’s efforts, I was finally able to apply for citizenship.”
The city will continue to work with New American Workforce to help more citizenship-eligible employees contribute fully to the community as citizens.