Citizenship and Immigration Services building open in Lawrence

Merrimack Valley

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September 2, 2009

Building's grand opening set for Sept. 15

By Crystal Bozek

LAWRENCE — It is only fitting that to celebrate the grand opening of the new Citizenship and Immigration Services building, 16 people will raise their right hands, take an oath of allegiance, and become citizens right here in Lawrence.

It will all be taped by the History Channel for a video installment at New York's Ellis Island.

Federal immigration officials said Lawrence can expect a lot more of the ceremonies.

"The building has a room for naturalization ceremonies," USCIS spokesman David Santos said. "It's hard to be jaded at a ceremony. ... Every natural born American should see a naturalization ceremony in my humble opinion."

The new Citizenship and Immigration Services center opened at the corner of Mill and Methuen streets in July, debuting a white Statue of Liberty painted on the window. The building's grand opening is slated for Sept. 15.

It's the second of its kind in Massachusetts.

Six hundred visitors are expected daily, and immigrants can petition for residency and citizenship, and receive information and support.

It is not a detention facility, officials emphasized.

The Eagle-Tribune recently got a sneak peak inside the $15 million building, from its blue naturalization ceremony room and portraits of President Barack Obama and Department of Homeland Security seals to interview rooms, fingerprinting machines and a waiting area reminiscent of an airport.

There is plenty of room for expansion to the building, which sits on the site of the former Lincoln Foods plant.

Field Office Director William Kelley said they have to be ready for any new immigration laws that might make it easier for citizens to go through the naturalization process — leaving them with a heavier caseload.

"If you didn't think we were serious about staying in Lawrence, look at this," Kelley said, showing off a 5,000-square-foot, empty room, before pointing out empty desks in other rooms.

The building is expected to bring 70 new jobs. Kelley said they have 31 sworn personnel and several contractors working out of the building so far.

Boston is home to the state's other Citizenship and Immigration Services building. But Lawrence, long known as the Immigrant City, was selected as the second state site due to need.

"Everything was in Boston," Kelley said. "You could sometimes see a line around the block. ... This makes it a lot easier for a lot of people. The goal was to go out to where people are."