PHOENIX (CBS5/AP) -
A total of 250 Valley residents were welcomed as U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony at South Mountain Community College on Wednesday.
They were sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver in the college's gymnasium.
The new citizens came from 62 countries.
The ceremony was part of an annual Fiesta of Independence celebration July 4.
The Fiesta of Independence is a local effort that began in 1988, when 50 citizens were sworn in.
In Tucson, 21 people were also welcomed as new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony in Saguaro National Park.
They were sworn in as U.S. citizens by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps.
The new citizens came from 11 countries, including Columbia, India and Mexico.
Saguaro National Park plans to make July 4 naturalization ceremonies an annual tradition.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
