It was the biggest such event ever held in Chicago. Nearly 2 thousand people (1,984 to be exact) from 120 countries became naturalized U.S. citizens yesterday (Wednesday, Dec 7) at Wintrust Arena.
The ceremony was three times bigger than the next largest, held this past July at Wrigley Field, when 656 people took the oath of allegiance and became citizens.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the federal courts to get creative with these naturalization events. To comply with social distancing rules in federal courthouses, where many swearing-ins had been held, ceremonies were moved outdoors, or into large indoor public spaces like arenas.
Chronicle News graphic