With the final words of the oath of allegiance, 344 people from dozens of countries became newly minted U.S. citizens in a ceremony Wednesday at the Tampa Convention Center.
Surrounded by family, the new citizens earned the right to vote, serve as jurors and petition the government to have relatives come to this country.
Among them was the son of opera star Placido Domingo Sr., one-third of The Three Tenors, opera stars who made one of classical music's most popular recordings.
Placido Domingo Jr. said the occasion was special because he and hundreds of others earned their citizenship.
"It's a very special day. I will acquire this nationality I am not entitled to by birth. I have rights I was not entitled to before," he said.
The right he's most looking forward to exercising?
"Vote. I would love to vote," he said, adding that he wouldn't mind a jury summons.
A composer, Domingo was born in Mexico and lives in Miami.
U.S. citizenship is special because of the nation's place in the world, he said.
"It's the greatest nation in the whole world," Domingo said. "America literally is the nation that protects the whole world."
Placido Domingo Sr., along with Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, formed The Three Tenors in 1990 and performed around the world.
In fiscal 2009, more than 740,000 people became United States citizens.
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