Migrants naturalized at Monticello on Independence Day, defying Trump's policies

Dunia Woodward, a 50-year-old from Honduras, beamed as she accepted her naturalization certificate at Monticello, the historic estate of Thomas Jefferson. Her dream of becoming a U.S. citizen was realized on Independence Day, July 4, 2026, the nation's 250th anniversary. Woodward was among 75 individuals who celebrated their citizenship in a ceremony held on the grounds of the former tobacco plantation, a departure from typical courthouse proceedings.

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I grew up in bitter, bitter poverty. To be able to eat, I picked a mango myself from a tree.

Nearly three thousand spectators braved the 37-degree Celsius heat to witness the "festival of immigration." Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia addressed the attendees, noting that they were becoming Americans during a time of national challenges. The presence of Donald Trump's presidency and his strict migration policies loomed over the moment for the new citizens building their lives in the U.S.

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The situation was terrible and I had to find a way to bring myself and my child to safety.

Woodward, who received one of the largest ovations, moved the crowd to tears with her story. "I grew up in bitter, bitter poverty," she said, recounting how she had to pick mangoes to feed herself and her child. "The situation was terrible, and I had to find a way to bring myself and my child to safety." Her son, now 28 and a drill instructor in the Navy, was three when she left Honduras. "We serve the community and help others. That is why we are here. Please honor those who give everything without asking for anything in return," she urged.

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We serve the community and help others. That is why we are here. Please honor those who give everything without asking for anything in return.

Monticello has hosted naturalization ceremonies since the 1960s. These events rarely stood in such stark contrast to presidential policies aimed at limiting immigration. Trump's recent attempt to deny birthright citizenship to children of migrants was blocked by the Supreme Court. All individuals naturalized on this day had already been legal permanent residents for at least five years and demonstrated "good moral character."

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You are becoming Americans at a time when we Americans face a series of challenges.