RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina now has dozens of new citizens after a Fourth of July naturalization ceremony.

• Dozens of immigrants took oathes of citizenship Thursday.
• About 30 people are now official citizens of North Caorlina.
• 7,500 people across the US are expected to participate in similar ceremonies across the U.S. this week. 

About 30 people took their oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony in Raleigh Thursday.

Hope Mills resident Evelyn Jeffries is originally from the Dominican Republic. It took many years of hard work to reach this day, she said.

“It’s a long process,” Jeffries said. “It’s not that easy. Then you have to study about history. You have to prove that you speak English so you can read and understand. I’m not that good, but I try.”

About 7,500 people across the nation will take part in a naturalization ceremony this week, according to the U.S. government.