More Than 200 To Take Citizenship Oath In Massachusetts On July 4

STURBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — More than 200 people in Massachusetts are celebrating their first Independence Day as U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says the candidates will take the oath of allegiance during ceremonies Thursday at Old Sturbridge Village and the Hampshire County Superior Courthouse in Northampton. Others will be sworn in aboard the USS Constitution warship in Boston.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Collings will preside over the Sturbridge event, in which 150 candidates from 54 countries will take the oath.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson is leading the Northampton ceremony, which involves 53 candidates from 26 countries.

The government says it’s welcoming about 7,500 new citizens in nearly 110 naturalization ceremonies this week.