President Joe Biden recalled attending a naturalization rite in Iraq for U. S. troops on one occasion at the White House to celebrate a new group of immigrant citizens before Independence Day.

“One of my moments of greatest satisfaction, I don’t know how to put it, was, as vice president, when I went to Saddam Hussein’s terrible and squeaky palace and there were, I think, 167 men and women in uniform. palace,” he said Friday. I thought, ‘What an incredible justification for all the things Saddam didn’t do. ‘”

HARRIS AND BUTTIGIEG FIGHT FOR QUALITY LIGHT AHEAD OF FUTURE PRIMARY FIGHT

Biden and his wife Jill traveled to Baghdad in 2009 for a diplomatic project, which coincided with a July 4 rite of naturalization of 237 infantrymen at Hussein’s Al Faw Palace. That day, 12 Iraqis became U. S. citizens.

Over the course of 12 years, Biden repeated the oath of allegiance in the East Room of the White House on Friday with 21 new nationals of countries, adding Iraq. Applicants also arrived from Afghanistan, Nepal, Panama and the United Kingdom.

“Thank you for choosing the United States of America, for believing that The United States is worthy of your aspirations,” he said. “You all constitute how essential immigration has been in the United States. “

In his somewhat tortuous speech, Biden also said that the country may simply not be explained, but went on to say that it can be explained simply as a country “based on the concept that we take those truths as self-evident, that all men and women are created equal, endowed through their author with secure and inalienable rights. ” , lifting the Declaration of Independence.

The white house’s last naturalization rite was overseen by former President Donald Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention. The debates, broadcast in prime time, were widely criticized for employing immigrants as political supporters. Security Secretary Chad Wolf to see if he had violated the Hatch Act by agreeing to participate.

Biden is under increasing pressure to grant visas to Afghans who worked with U. S. forces during Afghanistan’s 20-year career following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the country’s longest war.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the directorate has met several applicants who will be relocated out of Afghanistan, pending visa approval.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“There are a variety of options, and this will happen before we finish the army’s withdrawal until the end of August,” he added Friday of reports that they would be sent to Central Asia.