The Empire Strikes Back: Trump Administration cancels some naturalization ceremonies for those on travel ban list
ABC News reports that some naturalization ceremonies for people that were set to be sworn in as U.S. citizens from the 19 countries on the Trump administration's new travel ban list have been paused. "Naturalization ceremonies scheduled for later this week were canceled for nationals from Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan, sources said."
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last week paused all immigration asylum cases pending review, following the shooting of National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
The pause applies to approvals and denials of all forms of immigration relief, including final adjudications of cases for noncitizens from the 19 travel ban countries. "An immigration attorney told ABC News that some people from those countries have also had their naturalization interviews cancelled without explanation."
“The Trump Administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best," a DHS spokesperson told ABC News. "Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. We will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake. The Trump Administration is reviewing all immigration benefits granted by the Biden administration to aliens from Countries of Concern."
