For immigrants, naturalization ceremonies represent the culmination of years of efforts to achieve citizenship. Before a federal judge, permanent residents raise their right hand, repeat an oath of allegiance to their new country, and usually proudly wave a small American flag once the judge confirms their citizenship.
On December 4, one such event took place at Boston's Faneuil Hall, the historic site where revolutionaries like Samuel Adams promoted the idea of American freedom. According to Project Citizenship, a nonprofit that provides legal support to those seeking citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials denied entry to several people attending a naturalization ceremony. Each of these people was from one of 19 countries that the Trump administration has designated as high-risk countries under a Dec. 2 Department of Homeland Security order. memowhich ordered the immediate suspension and processing of immigration applications from these countries, including Haiti, Afghanistan and Venezuela.
What happened at the Boston ceremony is part of a tightening of the naturalization process across the country. In late November, New York State Attorney General Letitia James wrote: letter USCIS questioned its decision to cancel ceremonies in several counties in its state; USCIS said the counties were “not in compliance.” legal requirements” On December 9 in Indianapolis, 38 out of 100 potential citizens were turned away at the ceremony, according to local news reports. Local media in Atlanta reported that on December 12 three immigrants The oath ceremony was cancelled.
Why did we write this
In Boston and other cities, some legal permanent residents are having their naturalization ceremonies canceled amid the Trump administration's review of applicants from 19 countries identified as high security risks.
Efforts to curb legal immigration routes follow shootings two National Guard members in Washington, one died just before Thanksgiving. An Afghan national who entered the country legally in 2021 under a program for allies who served with the U.S. military was charged with first degree murder. After the attack, President Donald Trump quickly announced significant immigration restrictions, including a pause in asylum decisions. This week the Trump administration 20 countries added to the list of countries whose citizens face a full or partial ban on entry into the United States
Those who apply for naturalization are among the most scrutinized immigrants in the country. To be eligible, an immigrant must generally have been a lawful permanent resident for minimum five yearsbe a “person of good moral character” and pass civics and English tests. The process may take decadesand the oath ceremony is largely seen as a formality.
Gail Breslow, executive director of the Citizenship Project in Boston, said naturalization ceremonies were canceled for 21 of the organization's clients this month. Clients were either pulled out of line for December 4 ceremonies or notified via email that their ceremonies scheduled for December 4 or 10 were cancelled.
One client who was personally rejected had lived in the United States for more than 20 years, Ms. Breslow said. “She was background checked, she was fingerprinted, she was photographed, she was given a civics test… This is a person who has already been told that she has been approved for citizenship.”
Minnesota has also canceled naturalization ceremonies in recent weeks, said Jane Graupman, executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota, which provides legal services to immigrants. Only four of the organization's clients received citizenship this month, compared with the usual 40-70. In addition, since November, the institute has documented more than 60 cases in which immigrants received fee waivers on their citizenship applications when USCIS fraud squad officers showed up at their homes to review documents such as tax records and mortgages, according to Ms. Graupman.
In a statement to the Monitor, a USCIS spokesperson said the agency has “suspended all adjudications against aliens from high-risk countries,” although it is “working to ensure that all aliens from these countries are screened and vetted to the maximum extent possible.”
“The pause will allow for a comprehensive review of all pending requests for benefits for foreigners from countries on the list of high-risk countries,” the statement said. “The safety of the American people always comes first.”
Immigration lawyers and advocates condemned the repeal as unnecessary and cruel.
“By the time you actually get to the ceremony, you've gone through so many steps and so many processes; you already feel like an American,” says Jeffrey Tillman, president and CEO of the International New England Institute, which supports immigrants and refugees. “It’s discouraging for people and it’s also causing more anxiety among immigrants.”
The Trump administration's moves come at a time when national support for the president's immigration measures is dwindling. Recent Poll The Associated Press-NORC found that approval of Trump's immigration policies fell from 49% in March to 38% in early December.
“Tip of the Iceberg”
Over the past year, the White House has made illegal immigration the centerpiece of its agenda, from large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to mobilizing National Guard troops, the Border Patrol and other federal agencies to assist immigration officials. Now, recent USCIS policies are restricting legal immigration pathways, creating obstacles for those seeking citizenship.
Ginny Kain, an attorney with Kain Immigration, suggests that canceling naturalization ceremonies is the “tip of the iceberg” of the possible outcome of the USCIS memo.
Under Section 1447(b) of Title 8, United States Code.Individuals who undergo a naturalization ceremony must be certified as citizens within 120 days of their citizenship interview. Ms Kane suggests legal action is likely to be taken on behalf of those whose ceremonies have been cancelled. Her biggest concern is for residents of 19 high-risk countries who have pending asylum cases or are seeking green cards.
“I have [a client] who have been awaiting a decision on their asylum case since 2014. … And now he won’t get a decision.”
Ms Kane is also concerned that the number of high-risk countries will increase. It is not yet clear whether citizens who are already in the US (but from the latest countries added to the Trump administration's travel ban) will also be subject to additional scrutiny when applying for asylum, green cards or citizenship.
The Trump administration may also intensify efforts to revoke the citizenship of those who have already naturalized. USCIS field offices were asked to identify According to a recent report by The New York Times, there will be 100 to 200 denaturalizations per month in fiscal year 2026.
On December 10, another ceremony was held at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston, a few days after the ceremony at Faneuil Hall, where immigrants were turned away. Jane Ellis, one of many volunteers who help new citizens register to vote, said additional volunteers have been called in to deal with similar disruptions.
“I just can't imagine people going through all the steps they have to go through to get to this point. And to be rejected is just terrible,” said Ms. Ellis, who began volunteering during the first Trump administration. “I can’t even wrap my head around it.”
Supporters of the administration's immigration policies say the tightening of restrictions is a good thing. Laura Rice, director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Border Security and Immigration: published a report this month calls for a new immigration system that “gives priority to Americans first, legal immigrants second, and illegal aliens generally.”
“In short, legitimate applicants who are eligible for immigration benefits should receive them in a timely manner, and those who are not should be promptly denied and then promptly leave the United States,” Ms. Rice wrote.
Immigration advocates like Ms. Breslow criticize the Trump administration's recent policies for targeting people based on their national origin, which she calls “xenophobic and racist.” Of the 19 high-risk countries, most are in Africa or the Middle East.
“These are people who have built their lives here. They are our neighbors, our colleagues, the people we sit next to on the bus and subway,” she says.
Naturalization ceremonies have long been a beacon of hope for immigrants seeking the American Dream.
Munifa Prosnitz, originally from Brazil, lived in the United States for nine years. She walked into Moakley Courthouse last week as a permanent resident and left as a U.S. citizen. After receiving her citizenship certificate, Ms. Prosnitz said she felt “free.”
“I don't know how to explain it, it's [feels] so good. Now I can vote, I can serve the country. There are things I can do to get better here.”
