--- title: Jimmy Kimmel Welcomes New U.S. Citizens to America description: As the controversy over the Trump administration's border policies escalates, Jimmy Kimmel is showing appreciation for America's new citizens. canonical: https://time.com/5313396/jimmy-kimmel-welcomes-immigrants/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-06-15T14:59:16.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T09:31:03.899Z og:title: Jimmy Kimmel Gave New U.S. Citizens a True American Welcome og:description: "We seem to have forgotten that this is a nation of immigrants" og:url: https://time.com/5313396/jimmy-kimmel-welcomes-immigrants/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcb4d6402dd2c1b8b/6989332bab6d77267e6b2f6a/screen-shot-2018-06-15-at-10-22-11-am.png?branch=production&width=1167&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1167 og:image:height: 656 og:image:alt: Jimmy-Kimmel-Immigrants og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Jimmy Kimmel Gave New U.S. Citizens a True American Welcome twitter:description: "We seem to have forgotten that this is a nation of immigrants" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcb4d6402dd2c1b8b/6989332bab6d77267e6b2f6a/screen-shot-2018-06-15-at-10-22-11-am.png?branch=production&width=1167&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Jimmy Kimmel Gave New U.S. Citizens a True American Welcome With Illegal Fireworks and Everything > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f48f1d43-e6c2-43b8-acd2-3e37f1d1557a&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: AG Jeff Sessions Cites The Bible To Defend Separating Immigrant Families [Watch (HLS stream): AG Jeff Sessions Cites The Bible To Defend Separating Immigrant Families](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NBxKn2xe.m3u8) (1:08)  _Published 2018-06-14. AG Jeff Sessions Cites The Bible To Defend Separating Immigrant Families_  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 15, 2018 2:59 PM UTC AG Jeff Sessions Cites The Bible To Defend Separating Immigrant Families  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 15, 2018 2:59 PM UTC As the controversy over the [Trump administration border policy](http://time.com/5312987/jeff-sessions-separating-immigrant-families/) that is resulting in hundreds of [immigrant children](http://time.com/5312971/texas-temporary-immigrant-shelter/) being separated from their parents after they [enter the U.S. illegally](http://time.com/5311971/parents-children-us-border/) continued to escalate on Thursday, Jimmy Kimmel took the time to show appreciation for some of America’s newest citizens. “We’ve heard a lot lately about immigrants and immigration,” he said. “We seem to have forgotten that this is a nation of immigrants—people who came here because they believe they can build a better life. Every week, immigrants from all over the world take the oath of citizenship in courthouses, libraries, auditoriums all across the country without much pomp or circumstance…I think becoming an American shouldn’t look like a visit to the DMV.” The _Live!_ host then invited six brand new U.S. citizens to join him on stage to properly celebrate their naturalization, presenting them with official “Welcome to America” gift baskets that included patriotic souvenirs such as an apple pie, a beer helmet, illegal Chinese fireworks and a pair of trunk nuts. Watch the full clip below. ## Transcript [00:00] I thought I'd take a little bit of digression here to [00:03] discuss some some concerns raised by our church [00:07] friends about separation of families. Many of the [00:11] criticisisms raised in recent days are not fair, are [00:15] not logical, and some are contrary to plain law. First, [00:20] Illegal entry into the United States is a crime. It should [00:24] be, it must be if you're gonna have a legal system, and [00:27] have any limits whatsoever. Persons who violate the [00:31] law of our nation are subject to prosecution. If you [00:35] violate the law you subject yourself to prosecution. [00:37] Now I would say Due to the [00:41] Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in [00:44] Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government [00:49] because God has ordained the government for his [00:52] purposes. Orderly and lawful processes [00:56] are good in themselves. Consistent, fair application [01:01] of law is in itself a good and moral thing. 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