Nearly two dozen local immigrants became United States citizens on Friday in Keene. 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Fresno and the National Park Service naturalized 22 immigrants at the Cesar Chavez National Monument.

Today's special naturalization ceremony was also in honor of Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez was an American civil rights activist and co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez was the ceremony's guest speaker. Rodriguez is the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez and the State Director for Senator Kamala Harris.

"Immigrants just don't belong in America, immigrants have built America," said Rodriguez. 

The ceremony concluded around 1 p.m.

For information on how to become a U.S. Citizen click here.