Rockland County lawmakers are calling on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately reinstate local naturalization ceremonies following the abrupt cancellation of scheduled events, including a Dec. 5 ceremony that was set to welcome approximately 100 new citizens.
In a letter sent to USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow, twelve Rockland County legislators — Jay Hood Jr., Aney Paul, Alden Wolfe, Phil Soskin, Paul Cleary, Itamar Yeger, Toney Earl, Beth Davidson, Jesse Malowitz, Moshe Hopstein, Joel Friedman, and Dana Stilley — expressed deep concern over the agency’s decision, stating that it has halted the final step of the citizenship process for dozens of local residents.
Naturalization ceremonies mark the culmination of years of residency, background checks, English and civics testing, and extensive application procedures. Without the ceremony, applicants cannot take the Oath of Allegiance and thus cannot be recognized as U.S. citizens.
Legislators say the cancellations are already causing significant distress among families.
“Becoming a U.S. citizen is not just a legal process — it is an emotional and life-changing moment,” said Legislator Paul Cleary. “Many of these residents have spent years preparing for this day. To have their ceremony cancelled at the last minute is devastating.”
Beyond the personal impact, residents are now facing expiring travel documents, work complications, and delays in fully participating in civic life.
“These cancellations create unnecessary instability for families who have followed every rule and done everything asked of them,” said Legislator Aney Paul, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from India. “We are calling on USCIS to immediately provide clarity, a rescheduling timeline, and the resources needed to prevent this from happening again.”
Lawmakers are urging USCIS to issue written guidance to affected applicants, prioritize rescheduling within 30 days, address staffing shortages, and coordinate with county governments to prevent future disruptions.
Legislator Itamar Yeger emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the legal immigration process. “My parents were legal immigrants who came here after the Holocaust in search of a better life. We speak often of a legal path to citizenship. We should not be turning our backs on those who have followed that path faithfully,” he said.
Legislator Beth Davidson criticized indications that USCIS may require all New York State applicants to travel to 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan — the same building that houses ICE and has become a center of immigration enforcement — to finalize the process.
“Naturalization ceremonies are joyful occasions with spouses and children present,” Davidson said. “Moving them to Manhattan creates unfair barriers for those juggling work, childcare, and transportation.”
Legislator Jesse Malowitz called the cancellations “unacceptable,” noting his experience as a former congressional staffer. “People who went through the full legal process should be welcomed as citizens with open arms — not have their American Dream shut down just before they reach the finish line,” he said.
In a separate email to Hannah Kwok, section chief of the USCIS New York City field office, Legislator Cleary wrote, “My Irish-born grandparents all took the oath. Some of today’s applicants have waited over 20 years and paid thousands of dollars. In a country where we encourage people to ‘do it the right way,’ why would we make the process any more burdensome? I urge you to restore all naturalization ceremonies immediately.”