Judge Roger L. Gregory administered the Oath of Allegiance to 82 people from 39 countries at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, Virginia, on July 4, 2025. In addition to strict eligibility requirements, new citizens must also now pass a civics test.
The event opened with remarks from Jamie O. Bosket, President and CEO of the VMHC, who expressed gratitude to Judge Gregory for his “continued and absolute passion” for the ceremony. Rob McIntosh, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, presented the candidates for citizenship and announced each country of origin, ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Prior to administering the Oath of Allegiance, Judge Gregory stated, “You probably and likely do know more about our system of government…and the three branches of government than most people who have been American citizens a lot longer than you. So, you worked hard.”
Judge Gregory’s remarks to the newly sworn citizens began with the concept of “a sober sense of citizenship” and a quote from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1797: “It was by the sober sense of our citizens that we were safely and steadily conducted from monarchy to republicanism, and it is by the same agency alone we can be kept from falling back.” (Read Jefferson’s 1797 letter at the National Archives.) Judge Gregory also spoke about another letter written by Jefferson in 1821, in which he described a flame kindled on July 4, 1776, that had spread around the globe and could not be quenched by despotism. Emphasizing the responsibility of citizens to keep that flame lit, Judge Gregory shared a quote from Benjamin Franklin, “I have given you a republic if you can keep it.”
After leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, Borhan Hosseini, a new citizen, shared his long journey to citizenship. He left Afghanistan at the age of 16 and walked for 27 days across Pakistan and Iran before arriving in Turkey. After four years in Turkey, he applied for refugee status, was accepted by the United States and received a visa in 2020. “Now, as I stand before you as a proud new citizen, I am filled with gratitude and happiness. The United States gave me the opportunity to build a good life, pursue my dreams, and seek happiness. I want to express my deepest thanks to this great nation for welcoming me with open arms. I promise to do my best to serve and protect this country and contribute positively to our community.”
Watch the VMHC Naturalization Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o2PwiaWA6k