(CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE) A joyful scene filled the federal courtroom on June 5, 2025, as 73 people from 35 countries took the Oath of Allegiance and became American citizens during a Concord naturalization ceremony. Presided over by Judge Paul Barbadoro, the event blended formality with warmth—music, laughter, and steady applause from families and friends—marking the end of long journeys that brought each new citizen to the United States 🇺🇸 and to this moment at the Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse.
Organizers coordinated the ceremony with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For many, the right to vote stood at the heart of the day. One new citizen, Maria Dunia of Venezuela, spoke about a 12-year path through several visas and then a green card before finally reaching citizenship, saying she wanted to fully join civic life, including voting.
Her story mirrored the path of others in the room who faced paperwork, waits, and uncertainty—and who now left with naturalization certificates, big smiles, and clear plans for the future.
Ceremony setting and atmosphere
The federal courthouse setting offers rich symbolism that many families notice right away. There is the oath before a federal judge, the display of the flag, and the presence of court staff and USCIS representatives working side by side.
In Concord, these elements come together month after month. Families arrive early with cameras. Children wave small flags. By the end, every row stands for the pledge, often with a few tears mixed with relief.
The June ceremony included new citizens from regions across the globe, highlighting the wide range of stories behind one shared decision to call America home. The group’s diversity reinforced what organizers described as a familiar pattern: Concord ceremonies frequently welcome people from dozens of countries, adding to the state’s changing, lively mix of cultures and languages.
“Citizenship meant a voice after many years of waiting and working in the United States,” Maria Dunia said, noting voting, jury service, travel with a U.S. passport, and the comfort of full membership in a country where she’d built a life.
The applause that followed showed how closely her story matched the hopes of many others.
A monthly milestone at the Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse
These events are part of ongoing monthly ceremonies held in Concord in coordination with USCIS. The repeated cadence reflects steady demand in New Hampshire and the region and shows the courthouse’s role as a welcoming place for people taking this final step.
Court officials and USCIS staff position these events as both a personal milestone and a community moment. Each ceremony blends practical steps—checking in, final processing, and the oath—with a clear message about civic duty.
Key civic responsibilities emphasized during ceremonies:
– Voting: registering and participating in elections
– Jury service: potential civic participation when called
– Respect for the Constitution: the core promise of the oath
In Concord, the balance of celebration and duty is intentional. It sends new citizens back into their towns and cities ready to take part in local, state, and national life.
Wider pattern across New Hampshire in 2025
The June event was not the only one this year. New Hampshire hosted other ceremonies in 2025, including a July 4 gathering at the Strawbery Banke Museum that welcomed 73 new citizens from 38 countries.
Together, these ceremonies reflect:
– Steady naturalization in the state
– Continued efforts to create spaces for celebration with family, friends, and local communities
– The courthouse as a bridge between federal process and local civic life
VisaVerge.com reports that steady, well-run ceremonies help reduce stress for applicants at the final stage—especially when court schedules and USCIS coordination remain consistent. That appears to be true in Concord, where the process has become familiar to staff and volunteers who guide many groups through the same steps.
The oath and practical next steps
Inside the courtroom, Judge Barbadoro’s role gave the day a sense of dignity. The oath asked people to pledge their support to the United States and, when required by law, to bear arms or perform work of national importance under civilian direction.
In the quiet moments after the oath, the room paused. Then the applause began again, and families moved forward for photos with certificates and flags.
Practical matters new citizens commonly handle after the ceremony:
1. Register to vote in their local town or city.
2. Apply for a U.S. passport.
3. Update Social Security records and employer files to reflect new status.
4. Participate in local civic and community organizations.
These steps are part of the full transition into civic life—work that often begins the same day the judge declares someone a citizen.
Contact and resources
For questions about the process or dates for upcoming ceremonies, contact the local USCIS office in Bedford:
- Phone: 603-606-6600
- Toll-free: 1-800-375-5283
USCIS provides guidance on what to bring to the ceremony, the oath, and next steps afterward. Readers can find official details on ceremony procedures at the USCIS page What to Expect at the Naturalization Ceremony: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/what-to-expect-at-the-naturalization-ceremony.
Event snapshot
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event date | June 5, 2025 |
| Location | Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse, Concord |
| New citizens | 73 people from 35 countries |
| USCIS contact (Bedford) | 603-606-6600 / 1-800-375-5283 |
Closing reflections
The Concord naturalization ceremony shows how federal policy translates into daily life. While federal rules set the framework, the courthouse gives those rules a human face.
For many—like Maria Dunia—the day marked the end of a long route through interviews, background checks, and years of planning. For their families, it marked the start of something new: new voices in local elections, new jurors in county courts, new participants at school board meetings, and new advocates in community groups from Manchester to Nashua and beyond.
As the June crowd filtered out onto the courthouse steps, hugs and phone cameras took over. The formal parts of the day were done, but the meaning lingered. The last to leave clutched certificates and posed for photos with the courthouse sign behind them.
For Concord, for the court, and for the 73 people who took the oath, the day was more than a ceremony. It was a public statement that the community keeps its doors open and its promise bright—one oath at a time.
This Article in a Nutshell
On June 5, 2025, 73 people representing 35 countries became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse in Concord. Presided over by Judge Paul Barbadoro and coordinated with USCIS, the event combined formal oath-taking with celebratory elements—music, applause, and family gatherings. Testimonies, including Maria Dunia’s 12-year path from Venezuela, highlighted long immigration journeys culminating in full civic participation. Officials emphasized civic responsibilities such as voting, jury service, and respect for the Constitution. The ceremony is part of monthly proceedings in Concord and reflects steady naturalization activity across New Hampshire in 2025, including another July 4 event at Strawbery Banke Museum.
