Springfield Welcomes 26 New Citizens at Ceremony
Federal judges administered the oath of allegiance to new citizens from 11 countries at the Old State Capitol.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Civic
Live Poll
Should the U.S. allow more immigrants to become citizens each year?
26 new United States citizens were naturalized during a ceremony held at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, on Friday. The new citizens come from 11 countries.
Why it matters
The ceremony marks the completion of naturalization for residents of Springfield who have gone through the citizenship process. Outgoing U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who attended, said naturalization needs to be protected for every generation.
The ceremony naturalized 26 new citizens drawn from 11 countries of origin, including Argentina, Belarus, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. The extraction does not provide a breakdown of how many came from each country.
The players
Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin is the outgoing U.S. Senator from Illinois who attended and spoke at the naturalization ceremony.
Colleen R. Lawless
Colleen R. Lawless is a U.S. District Judge who administered the oath of allegiance to the new citizens.
Douglas J. Quivey
Douglas J. Quivey is a U.S. Magistrate Judge who administered the oath of allegiance to the new citizens.
The details
U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless and U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas J. Quivey administered the oath of allegiance to the new citizens. Durbin's mother also became a citizen through a naturalization process.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026: Naturalization ceremony held at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.
Civic Milestones
Naturalization ceremonies such as this one follow the federal oath-of-allegiance procedure, in which federal judges administer the oath to each new citizen. Each ceremony adds a group of newly naturalized residents to the national citizenry.
The ceremony is an in-person public event held at the Old State Capitol, and the extraction does not indicate that it was livestreamed or open to the public beyond attendance. Residents interested in attending future naturalization ceremonies would need to check with the venue or the presiding federal court.
The takeaway
Naturalization is a formal, court-supervised step that turns eligible residents into citizens, and ceremonies like this one make that milestone visible to the community. Residents who want to follow similar events can watch for announcements from local federal courts.
Further reading
Explore more civic news to see how citizenship ceremonies like this one fit into broader community life in Springfield.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCIA.
Live Poll
Should the U.S. allow more immigrants to become citizens each year?
