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Melania Trump's parents become U.S. citizens, taking their oaths in a private ceremony

Viktor Knavs and Amalija Knavs, parents of the first lady Melania Trump, arrive at the White House with the first family June 11, 2017 in Washington, DC. Photo: Pool/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. — First lady Melania Trump's parents are new U.S. citizens, after taking the oath of citizenship in a private ceremony at their attorney's office Thursday.

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Viktor and Amalija Knavs, 73 and 71 years old respectively, obtained their citizenship through a sponsorship by their daughter, according to CNN, in a category of family visas Trump administration officials have called "chain migration" and want to end.

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The Knavs are from Slovenia, but were living in the United States for more than a decade before becoming permanent legal residents, CNBC reported, citing the couple's immigration lawyer Michael Wildes.

Wildes said the Knavses citizenship journey "was no different than anybody else's," according to CNBC.

The White House refused to comment on the first lady’s parents’ new status as U.S. citizens.