Beloved American Tradition Canceled Until Further Notice

It has been announced that, effective immediately, Rockland and several other Hudson Valley offices are being forced to cancel their naturalization ceremonies. This order has come from the NYC Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, and is a federal order from the Trump administration. 

A naturalization ceremony is the final step in the arduous journey towards becoming a citizen. The day  is marked by taking the Oath of Allegiance, a surrendering of the Green Card, and is a celebration of immigrants’ hard work and new citizenship. The ceremony is mandatory for all new citizens and has taken place in counties around the U.S. for decades. 

This news has come as a shock to Green Card holders and political officials alike. There has been very little information shared with officials regarding the length of time the cancellations are to take place, as the directive simply stated “until further notice”. No one seems quite sure why the order has been made, what the new guidelines will be, and while the County has shared that the ceremonies will be rescheduled in NYC, there is a shocking dearth of information regarding how the hundreds of naturalization ceremonies will be rescheduled. This relocation to NYC also  provides yet another financial hurdle for immigrants to overcome.

Congressman Lawler has submitted a letter to the Trump administration urging them to revoke this law. “I have attended many naturalization ceremonies during my time in public office. These ceremonies are emotional and one of the most patriotic expressions I’ve seen in our public systems. The individuals participating truly believe in the American Dream, and they have waited their whole lives to become a citizen of our great nation,” shared Lawler. “My wife is an immigrant – one of the happiest days of our lives is when she attended a Naturalization Ceremony and became an American citizen. Stealing that same joy from other to-be-citizens is wrong, plain and simple.” 

Shared below is Lawler’s full letter. 

Dear Director Edlow,

I am reaching out today after receiving notification from the New York City Field Office that there will be no more naturalization ceremonies in Rockland and Westchester Counties in New York. I urge you to immediately reverse this decision.

This policy change is deeply concerning for new citizens and their families in Rockland and Westchester. Should this change move forward, these new Americans would be forced to travel into New York City to take their Naturalization Oath. The trip there and back would take multiple hours as well as cost these folks money due to bridge and road tolls as well as gasoline.

I have attended many naturalization ceremonies during my time in public office. These ceremonies are emotional and one of the most patriotic expressions I’ve seen in our public systems. The individuals participating truly believe in the American Dream, and they have waited their whole lives to become a citizen of our great nation. We owe it to these new Americans not to pull the rug out from under them.

My wife is an immigrant – one of the happiest days of our lives is when she attended a Naturalization Ceremony and became an American citizen. Stealing that same joy from other tobe-citizens is wrong, plain and simple.

I am committed to working with you to reverse this decision and ensure Naturalization Ceremonies can once again take place in Rockland and Westchester Counties. I urge you to reverse this decision. I look forward to hearing back.

Sincerely,

Michael V. Lawler

Member of Congress

Upon receipt of the letter, Congressman Lawler stated that he had a productive call with USCIS leadership and remains optimistic about a timely reversal that will restore Naturalization Ceremonies to Rockland and Westchester counties. 

We can only hope that this beloved tradition is swiftly reinstated to provide our newest Americans with the ceremony they deserve.