USCIS to Celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 17, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as part of Constitution Week (Sept. 17 to 23). The commemoration honors both the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and an observance that began in 1940 as "I Am an American Day." Citizenship Day began in 1952, signed into law by President Harry Truman and, in 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed the first Constitution Week.

"We continue to work in communities to raise awareness about citizenship in line with our mission to uphold America's promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect, and Constitution Week provides the opportunity to highlight this mission," said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. "We are committed to removing barriers to immigration benefits and ensuring that we operate fairly and efficiently."

Each year, USCIS celebrates Constitution Week by celebrating the connection between the Constitution and citizenship, reflecting on what it means to be a citizen of the United States and holding special naturalization ceremonies across the country. The Constitution plays a meaningful role in the lives of all Americans, but particularly for those who are Americans by choice. The Constitution not only establishes the rule of law, but it also creates the framework for an immigration system that enables immigrants to become citizens.

As part of Constitution Week, USCIS will welcome more than 17,000 new citizens in 467 naturalization ceremonies across the nation from Sept. 14-23. Among the special naturalization ceremonies taking place is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event on Sept. 17, where USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou will administer the Oath of Allegiance. For additional venues, please view a list of highlighted 2024 Constitution Week themed ceremonies.

USCIS is committed to educating underserved or vulnerable populations about the benefits and opportunities of citizenship, and about the naturalization process. New U.S. citizens invigorate and contribute to their adopted country, and USCIS encourages eligible immigrants to naturalize. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have taken steps to support the implementation of Executive Order 14012: Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, including the USCIS Ambassador Initiative in which USCIS collaborates with immigrant community leaders.

The 2024 Constitution Week caps a year of notable accomplishments for USCIS in promoting citizenship and upholding our mission by making the naturalization process accessible to all who are eligible, including:

• Decreasing the naturalization backlog by 60 percent and returned to processing times under six months. Learn more about backlog reduction on our immigration data page.