ST. PAUL — The man who oversees the nation’s citizenship agency is helping 80 people in Minnesota take their oaths as American citizens.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas prepared Saturday to lead back-to-back ceremonies at the Mall of America.

In the first, 39 children from 36 countries were being sworn in. They were adopted from abroad or derive their citizenship from their parents.

At the second gathering, 41 adult immigrants from 22 countries will take their oath of allegiance.