Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer

For the sixth year, the Gathering Place was home to the City of Tulsa’s children’s citizenship ceremony. 

Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance to the U.S. Countries represented in the ceremony included Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Because of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, the majority of children in the ceremony derive their U.S. citizenship by the action of their parent(s) naturalizing while they were under the age of 18.

  • Mayor Monroe Nichols congratulates a new citizen during a ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Mayor Monroe Nichols congratulates a new citizen during a ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
  • Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
  • Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
  • Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
  • Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer
  • Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place's Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026.
    Twenty-two children from 12 countries took their oaths of allegiance at a citizenship ceremony held inside Gathering Place’s Williams Lodge on June 11, 2026. Credit: Tim Landes / Tulsa Flyer

News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

Tim Landes is the food, arts and culture editor at the Tulsa Flyer. Prior to joining the inaugural editorial team at the Tulsa Flyer, Tim spent a decade managing media relations for Cherokee Nation businesses,...