New York

NYC naturalization ceremony to mark World Refugee Day

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A group of 19 new U.S. citizens wave U.S. flags and celebrate on stage after they participated in a U.S. naturalization ceremony on World Refugee Day at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Monday, June 20, 2016, in New York. The International Rescue Committee, Department of Homeland Security and the Public theater helped commemorate the day by welcoming the immigrants from all over the world. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

New U.S. citizens from a dozen countries including Albania, Benin, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Gambia, Guinea, Jamaica, Kosovo, Liberia, Mali and Nigeria celebrate on stage after they took an oath of allegiance and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States during a U.S. naturalization ceremony on World Refugee Day at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Monday, June 20, 2016, in New York. The special ceremony was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the International Rescue Committee, and the Public Theater. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

A special naturalization ceremony is being held in New York's Central Park in honor of World Refugee Day.

Twenty people from 12 different countries are being sworn in as new Americans on Monday evening. Most of them are refugees or asylum seekers.

The special event is being held at The Delacorte Theater, an amphitheater best known as a venue for free Shakespeare performances.

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson will administer the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. The ceremony will be followed by a series of readings and performances celebrating refugees.

People who come to the U.S. as refugees or asylum seekers are eligible to apply for citizenship after five years in the country.