Recently, numerous naturalization ceremonies have been unexpectedly canceled across the country, leaving many immigrants in a state of confusion and uncertainty. These cancellations, some occurring at the very last minute, stem from new restrictions on legal immigration introduced after a shooting in Washington, D.C. The affected individuals, who had already completed the lengthy citizenship process, are now facing indefinite delays while USCIS conducts additional vetting for applicants from specific countries. Legal aid groups have expressed concerns about the chaos and fear caused by these actions, as well as the potential for further complications in the future.
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In Boston, on December 4th, immigrants approved for naturalization were unexpectedly pulled from line at the oath ceremony by USCIS officials. This action was taken due to the immigrants’ countries of origin, stemming from the Trump administration’s designation of 19 high-risk countries. Two days prior, USCIS had instructed employees to halt all immigration applications from these specific nations, impacting both green card and citizenship applicants. These actions have been met with criticism, with many immigrants expressing feelings of devastation and fear.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now screen immigrants seeking legal pathways to live and work in the U.S. for “anti-Americanism,” raising concerns about subjective judgments in rejecting applicants. Officers will consider whether an applicant has “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American views. The policy’s vagueness regarding what constitutes “anti-Americanism” has ignited worries that it could open the door for bias. Legal experts are divided on the constitutionality of the policy, with some arguing it violates free speech rights, while others believe the First Amendment does not protect non-citizens.
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In response to a Supreme Court decision, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a memo outlining plans to revoke citizenship from children born to immigrants, including those with temporary legal status. The memo envisions federal review of parents’ documentation, potentially in hospitals, to determine a newborn’s citizenship status. The plan would deny citizenship to children of immigrants who are “unlawfully present,” potentially rendering them deportable, and also includes children of those with lawful but temporary presence, such as visa holders and Dreamers. This policy change would necessitate intrusive federal involvement and create a caste-based system, putting ICE agents in maternity wards and potentially deporting babies.
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John Q. Hosedrinker