U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' employees treated children to a special Halloween-themed ceremony at their downtown offices Tuesday.
The special ceremony recognized 20 children from 11 different countries who gained citizenship through their parents, either by adoption or because their immigrant parents became naturalized citizens.
The children ranged from four to 11 years old and held up their hands as they were sworn in.
Emily Bylsma, 13, said she felt excited to finally be a citizen - and would notice the direct impact of her citizenship at school.
"Every morning you say the pledge of Allegiance, and so now I can really say it knowing this really applies to me now," she said. "It feels better saying it."
All of the children received citizen certificates after the ceremony.
They finished off the morning by trick-or-treating at offices around the building, getting candy from employees.
