In the spirit of the great Minnesota Get-Together, more than 60 people will become U.S citizens at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair.
"One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. That concludes our ceremony."
And with that came a standing on the stage inside the International Bazaar on the fairgrounds where about two dozen new U.S citizens read the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time.
Bizuah Eniru was born in Ethiopia and is now a U.S. Citizen.
"Wow, I'm feeling happy," she told WCCO Susie Jones. "I said thank you, God. This is really, this is a day for me coming. Praise the Lord, Hallelujah. I love very much the United States of America."
Monday was the first ceremony. There will be another one on September 2 at the fairgrounds where more people will join the ranks of American citizens.
The event is a traditional one at the Minnesota State Fair, but is taking on added significance after "Operation Metro Surge," the federal government's crackdown on illegal immigration in the state.
- Location: Summit Stage at the International Bazaar on the fairgrounds.
- Time: Typically held in the morning (around 9:00 a.m.) during the fair run. The next ceremony is Wednesday, Sept. 2.
- Accessibility: Ceremonies feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
- Significance: The event marks the final step in the citizenship process, allowing participants from dozens of countries to officially take their oaths surrounded by family, friends, and fairgoers.
