US halt citizenship ceremonies for migrants on travel-ban nations

The United States on Wednesday suspended citizenship ceremonies and halted all immigration applications processing linked to 19 countries currently under a White House travel ban.

This information was contained, in an internal memo obtained.

A citizenship ceremony typically marks the end of a years-long process, where applicants take an oath of allegiance and formally become American citizens.

According to the directive, immigration officers were asked to “stop final adjudication on all cases” involving applicants from the affected nations, pausing naturalisation ceremonies for migrants who were days away from becoming US citizens.

The move follows reports that President Donald Trump is considering expanding his June travel restrictions from 19 countries to 30.

The 19 countries primarily in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean were identified for full or partial immigration restrictions on 4 June.

Recall that, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended the freeze to every stage of immigration processing for applicants from these nations.

The memo states: “This hold includes all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies.”

USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser confirmed the pause to the New York Times, saying: “The Trump administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right.”

The White House has increasingly framed migrants and refugees as contributors to what President Trump calls the country’s “social dysfunction.” Following the deadly shooting, the administration has intensified scrutiny of asylum seekers and ordered a review of green cards previously issued to migrants from travel-ban countries.

As the policy reaches immigration offices nationwide, thousands of applicants may face indefinite delays to become US citizens.