Trump Administration Policy Halts Final Step to US Citizenship

New immigration rules from the Trump administration have stopped naturalization ceremonies across the United States. These ceremonies are the final, legally required step for immigrants to become American citizens. The policy change has left an unknown number of people in legal limbo. These individuals have completed all other requirements, including interviews and exams. Naturalization is the process where a foreign national becomes a citizen. The public ceremony, where applicants take an oath of allegiance, makes that change official. Without the ceremony, applicants are not citizens. They cannot vote, sponsor family members for visas, or obtain a US passport. US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency managing the process, has not announced when ceremonies might resume. The delay is part of a broader suspension of immigration services to limit in-person contact during the coronavirus pandemic.