On a recent Saturday morning, a group of approximately twelve individuals arrived at a U.S. immigration office in Virginia, each eager to complete the final step in the naturalization process. They held their naturalization notices and prepared to participate in a ceremony, where they would take the Oath of Allegiance to become American citizens. However, they were informed that the ceremony had been canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown.
A staff member at the check-in desk stated that the participants should have been notified, yet most had received no prior communication regarding the cancellation. Staff members allowed them to enter the building, suggesting there may have been miscommunication on their part as well. Following the visit, individuals checked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, which had initially been down. Once operational, it indicated that their appointments had been canceled days earlier for “unforeseen circumstances,” information that would remain unknown unless proactively checked.
The notice issued by the USCIS expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, but responses in the office ranged from disappointment to confusion. One woman expressed concern that her attire might have been the reason for the cancellation, while another individual was anxious about the disruption’s impact on family plans and future work. Many had invested significant time in the naturalization process, including completing necessary paperwork and preparing for citizenship tests.
The office staff directed the attendees to return on November 1; however, the continuation of the federal shutdown currently makes this date uncertain. USCIS generally remains operational during such shutdowns due to funding from application fees; however, delays in public-facing services, such as naturalization ceremonies, have been acknowledged by USCIS officials. There is no clear count of how many ceremonies have been canceled nationwide, leading to increasing anxiety among aspiring citizens. The ongoing federal shutdown, stemming from a bipartisan impasse, has left over 700,000 federal workers on unpaid leave, and the resolution timeline remains unclear, further complicating the situation for those seeking to attain U.S. citizenship.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgywnjkrlqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss