U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has canceled December naturalization ceremonies in Ulster, Dutchess and Putnam counties, telling local officials there were not enough candidates ready to take the oath of citizenship — a decision that has baffled county clerks who say they’ve been told there are long wait lists.
According to reporting by Maria M. Silva of the Times Union, the cancellations come just weeks after USCIS quietly halted, then reversed, a broader suspension of naturalization ceremonies in at least seven New York counties following bipartisan criticism. Naturalization ceremonies mark the final step in the process for green card holders to become U.S. citizens.
USCIS emails to county clerks cited a lack of candidates and referenced “statutory requirements” for county courts to host ceremonies, but did not spell out what those requirements are or whether the new cancellations are related to earlier issues. In Ulster County, Clerk Taylor Bruck said his office has routinely been told there are many more eligible candidates than can fit into a single ceremony, and called the decision “confusing and frustrating.”
Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Times Union managing editor Philip Pantuso, who noted that local officials report having long-standing wait lists and that USCIS had previously indicated there were enough people ready to be sworn in — even requesting larger ceremonies in some counties.
Meanwhile, officials and advocates are pressing for answers. State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, Bruck, and immigrant advocates are expected to hold a press conference in Kingston calling on the Trump administration and USCIS to reinstate the Ulster County ceremony and bring clarity to how and why these decisions are being made.