Trump’s in-laws granted US citizenship

First Lady Melania Trump's parents became US citizens in a naturalisation ceremony in New York on Thursday, US time, completing a years-long immigration process even as President Donald Trump has called for new laws to bar Americans from sponsoring parents and other relatives.

Michael Wildes, a lawyer for Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who had been living in the country as legal permanent residents after leaving their native Slovenia, confirmed his clients took the oath of citizenship.

News photographers captured images of the couple as they arrived at a Manhattan federal building accompanied by Department of Homeland Security officers. Wildes did not elaborate, citing the couple's privacy.

"Citizenship was just awarded," Wildes said. "They have prevailed in a wonderful journey as millions have."

Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for the First Lady, also declined to comment "as they are not part of the administration".

Wildes said the Knavs satisfied the requirement that permanent residents hold their green cards for five years before they can apply for US citizenship.

It is unclear when the Knavses first moved to the United States, but by late 2007, Viktor Knavs was listed in public records as residing at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Knavses received no special treatment because of their relationship with the first family, Wildes told reporters in New York.

"The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than the security arrangements to facility today," he said. "This is an example of it going right. They're very excited."