On a recent Saturday morning in Virginia, approximately a dozen individuals, each with diverse international origins, arrived at a U.S. immigration office, anticipating the culmination of their journey to become American citizens.
Clutching their naturalization notices, the group proceeded through security and queued at the check-in desk. The impending ceremony promised a solemn yet celebratory occasion, where they would raise their right hands and pledge allegiance to the United States. Small American flags in hand, they expected to depart as newly minted citizens.
However, their anticipation was abruptly curtailed with the announcement that the ceremony had been canceled due to the government shutdown.
“You should have been notified,” a staff member at the desk stated.
Despite this assertion, none of those present had received prior notification via email or phone. The fact that staff at the entrance had permitted entry without warning suggested a possible lack of internal communication.
Later, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website was temporarily inaccessible.
Upon its restoration, the author discovered that the appointment had been canceled days prior due to “unforeseen circumstances,” a detail that would have remained unknown absent individual verification.
“We regret any inconvenience this may cause,” the notification stated.
The disappointment among those gathered quickly morphed into confusion.
One woman, wearing a hijab, quietly inquired if the author had also been turned away, expressing concern that her attire might be the cause.
Another individual, who had brought his family to celebrate this final step toward citizenship, was left with anxiety and uncertainty.
Some attendees exhibited genuine fear, contemplating how the delay might impact their employment, personal lives, and future plans.
This was more than a mere inconvenience.
For many, the journey to this point had involved years of navigating complex paperwork, undergoing interviews, and preparing for the citizenship test. The author, a green card holder for over a decade, had decided to naturalize in order to exercise the right to vote. Now, all were left in a state of limbo.
Attendees were advised to return on November 1st. However, the ongoing federal shutdown casts doubt on the feasibility of this rescheduled date.
While the immigration service is primarily funded through application fees and typically remains operational during government shutdowns,
its director, Joseph Edlow, stated on X that public-facing services, including interviews and naturalization ceremonies, may be subject to delays. He noted that the agency “regrets any negative impacts but must ensure it complies with the law.”
The precise number of USCIS appointments or oath ceremonies canceled nationwide remains unclear. While the service provides a list of field office closures on its website, it does not publish aggregate data on canceled ceremonies. Anecdotal reports of other scrapped oath ceremonies have surfaced online.
The reopening of the government also remains uncertain.
Since October 1st, Republicans and Democrats have been deadlocked on government funding, resulting in a shutdown that has furloughed over 700,000 federal employees.
Compounding this situation are the numerous recent changes to U.S. immigration policies, further amplifying anxiety among those pursuing American citizenship. The consequences of this Washington impasse are extending into the daily lives—and potentially the futures—of those seeking to make the U.S. their permanent home.
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