A Vietnamese-American man paints the Vietnamese Thien Hau Temple beside the U.S. flag in Los Angeles, California on Dec. 16, 2018. Photo by AFP |
The government agency’s recent report reveals that the U.S. naturalized 878,000 individuals in 2023, marking one of the highest counts in recent years. Naturalizations during the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 account for 24% of all U.S. naturalizations in the last decade, with over 7.7 million new citizens welcomed during this time.
Vietnam was ranked sixth among the countries with the highest numbers of citizens gaining U.S. citizenship in 2023, with 32,800 individuals naturalized—an increase of 500 from 2022.
Mexico topped the list of countries whose citizens were naturalized in the U.S. in 2023, with 111,500 individuals, followed by India with 59,100, and the Philippines with 44,800.
The USCIS website states that deciding to become a U.S. citizen represents a significant milestone in an immigrant’s life. Citizenship candidates are required to demonstrate a commitment to the unifying principles that bind us as Americans, and in return, they will gain the rights and privileges that are fundamental to U.S. citizenship.