5K become citizens in before Donald Trump inauguration

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Just days before President Donald Trump was sworn-in as the commander in chief, 5,000 people were sworn-in as U.S. citizens at the Los Angeles Convention Center.[br /][br /]The new citizens represented more than 120 countries. For many, it was a long time coming and for others, it couldn't happen soon enough.[br /][Ads /][br /]"I just wanted to make sure that I would get my citizenship before Trump became the president," Ammar Al-Masri said on Wednesday. "To put my hand here and feel it and to be so proud, it happened today."[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc13.com/news/watch-live-protesters-clash-with-police-in-downtown-washington-blocks-from-trump-inauguration/1712391/" TARGET="" REL=""]WATCH: Protesters Clash With Police In downtown Washington, D.C.[/url][/b][br /][br /]"I felt tears well up in my eyes. It's just really special and I feel it's just a really great privilege to become a citizen," Mary Charlotte Nelson shared.[br /][Ads /][br /]A staple of Trump's campaign centered around immigration reform and many immigrants in the U.S. expressed fear of mass deportations.[br /][br /]Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck stated back in November[/url] that his officers would not be "the immigration police" and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti stated multiple times the city would remain a sanctuary city for immigrants.