On a Saturday morning in Virginia, a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds gathered at a U.S. immigration office, eager to complete their journey to becoming American citizens. Clutching their naturalization notices, they passed through security and lined up at the check-in desk, anticipating the solemn yet celebratory moment of taking the Oath of Allegiance. However, their hopes were abruptly dashed when they learned the ceremony had been canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown. None had received prior notifications, and the USCIS website, which later revealed the cancellation, had been temporarily inaccessible. The notice cited ‘unforeseen circumstances’ and expressed regret for the inconvenience. The cancellation left many in distress. One woman in a hijab feared discrimination, while a man who had brought his family to celebrate now faced uncertainty. Others worried about the impact on their work, lives, and plans. For many, this was more than an inconvenience—it was a disruption to years of effort, including navigating paperwork, interviews, and preparing for the citizenship test. The group was told to return on November 1, but with the shutdown unresolved, even that date is uncertain. While USCIS is largely funded by application fees and typically remains operational during shutdowns, its director, Joseph Edlow, stated that public-facing services like interviews and naturalization ceremonies could face delays. The exact number of canceled ceremonies nationwide remains unclear, though anecdotal reports suggest others have been affected. The shutdown, stemming from a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over government funding since October 1, has left over 700,000 federal workers on unpaid leave. Combined with recent rapid changes to U.S. immigration policies, the anxiety among aspiring citizens continues to grow. The political stalemate in Washington is now directly impacting the lives and futures of those hoping to make the U.S. their permanent home.
‘Your appointment’s rescheduled’: Shutdown cancels US citizenship ceremonies
