Mayor Yemi Mobolade welcomed 29 individuals from 14 different countries as new U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Mobolade, who is himself a naturalized citizen from Nigeria and serves as the only current immigrant mayor among the top 40 largest cities in the United States, addressed the group with reflections on his own journey and the ongoing significance of immigration to American society.
The ceremony included participants from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Guyana, India, Ireland, South Korea, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Mobolade emphasized both the personal milestone for each new citizen and their role in contributing to their new community.
“Today is one of the most sacred and hopeful days in the life of our nation,” Mobolade said. “Today, you become citizens of the United States of America. And on behalf of the City of Colorado Springs, it is my profound honor to welcome you home.”
He urged those present to recognize that becoming an American involves more than completing paperwork; it also means embracing civic responsibility and belonging. “Your languages, your cultures, your stories, your resilience – they do not dilute America,” Mobolade said. “They strengthen it. And let me say this clearly: this country needs you. Becoming an American is not simply about paperwork. It is about belonging. It is about responsibility. It is about stepping into a shared story that is far bigger than any one of us.”
Mobolade shared details from his own immigration experience: “I arrived carrying more than a suitcase,” he said. “I carried sacrifice. I carried a dream. I carried the prayers of loved ones who stayed behind. And I carried a belief that in America, through hard work, faith, perseverance, and God’s grace, anything is possible.”
Now serving as mayor of Colorado Springs—the 39th largest city in the nation—Mobolade pointed to his own election as evidence that opportunities remain open for immigrants in America: “Friends, the American Dream is not lost,” he said. “It is renewed every single time someone like you raises their hand and says ‘I choose this country.’”
He concluded by encouraging new citizens to participate actively in civic life through voting and community involvement: “America’s story is now your story,” Mobolade said. “And your story will help shape America’s future. From one immigrant to another – welcome home.”
A full transcript and video excerpt of Mayor Mobolade’s remarks are available online.
