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Amid the noise of food vendors and the smell of fried dough, a different kind of moment unfolded at the Minnesota State Fair this week: 30 people from around the world raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens. For many, it was the end of a journey decades in the making, and the start of something entirely new.

An accordion carried the notes of the national anthem across the crowd, where new citizens sat shoulder to shoulder — nervous, smiling and waving small American flags.

At the podium, U.S. District Court Judge Kate Menendez called on the group to rise — the signal that the final step toward citizenship was about to begin.

“We are going to be a little bit better as a country, a little bit stronger, a little bit more resilient and a little bit more diverse, and those are the things that contribute to making America great,” Menendez told the group.

The new citizens represented 17 different countries — including Vietnam, India, Kenya, the Philippines and Nepal.

“Many of you had to leave your homelands under difficult circumstances, fleeing violence or poverty or war and going not just directly to one easy landing, but sometimes journeying through refugee camps and through other countries in order to get to where you are today,” Menendez said.

The ceremony took place at the International Bazaar, just steps away from food stands representing a similar global mix of cultures: Holy Land, Union Hmong Kitchen, and El Burrito Mercado. The smell of fried dough and grilled meat drifted through the air as the judge read the oath.

Nationwide, around 800,000 people have taken that same oath in fiscal year 2024, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In Minnesota, thousands naturalize each year —  many after waiting more than a decade.

For people like Marcela Gow, who immigrated from Mexico in 1994 and is a DACA recipient, the day marked the end of a long journey.

“Well, the process isn't easy, it's not great, it's not cheap,” Gow said. “And so, luckily, I found the love of my life here. We got married, and the marriage process took about five years. Now we have two girls and a wonderful life.”

Asked what her first stop at the Fair would be as a new U.S. citizen, Gow laughed.

“Oh, yes, the Sweet Martha cookies, for sure.”

It was also the first Minnesota State Fair for Ashim Shreemal, who moved to Minnesota from Nepal in 2016. He became a U.S. citizen on the fairgrounds.

“This is like a dream come true for me. There is no country like this, and I'm proud to be an American now. So it was awesome,” he said. 

After the ceremony, new citizens and their families spilled into the fairgrounds, posing for photos and planning their next food stops.

For Judge Menendez, naturalization ceremonies are among the most rewarding parts of her work.

“They're one of the most positive and life-affirming things that we get to do in a job that can sometimes be very heavy and very difficult,” Menendez said. 

She said holding ceremonies at places like the State Fair helps show that naturalization isn’t just a legal step — it’s a milestone worth celebrating.

Menendez said naturalization ceremonies are usually held at convention centers and can include up to 700 people taking the oath of allegiance.

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Amid the noise of food vendors and the smell of fried dough, a different kind of moment unfolded at the Minnesota State Fair this week: 30 people from around the world raised their right hands and became U.S. citizens.

Stars, stripes and Sweet Martha’s cookies: Becoming American citizens at the fair

A group of people stand on a stage with their hands on their hearts.

Sarah Thamer | MPR News

A young child stands next to a judge standing with a microphone.

A couple and an infant hold a small U.S. flag.

Stars, stripes and Sweet Martha’s cookies: Becoming American citizens at the fair

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