Thirty-six Oklahomans are waking up for the first time this morning as U.S. citizens.

The men and women from 16 different nations raised their rights hands and swore their allegiance to the United States at a naturalization ceremony at Angus Valley Elementary School in Sand Springs.

United States District Court Judge Claire V. Eagan and United States Magistrate Judge T. Lane Wilson presided over the ceremony.

The new citizens hail from Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peoples Republic of China, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.

After raising their right hands and swearing their allegiance to the United States, most of these citizens had just one thing on their mind: voting.

Dozens filled out voter registration cards immediately following the naturalization ceremony.

Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."