The Trump administration's recent policy changes have put an indefinite hold on naturalization and green card actions for people tied to 19 countries designated as "high risk," disrupting citizenship oath ceremonies and leaving many lawful permanent residents in limbo.
What Has Changed
Lawful permanent residents already face rigorous screening before applying for U.S. citizenship. Applicants must typically hold a green card for several years, submit an application, pay fees, pass FBI background and biometric checks, complete an interview, and pass English and civics tests before a final oath ceremony. USCIS's new guidance abruptly suspends naturalization steps for applicants linked to 19 countries — including Cuba, Iran, Haiti and Somalia — and has led to cancellations of scheduled oath ceremonies.
Policy Moves And Examples
Advocates and applicants say the changes go beyond temporary scheduling: USCIS has reduced funding for community programs that teach civics and English, reintroduced neighborhood investigations into applicants' "moral character," expanded social media vetting, tightened the civics test, and announced plans for a centralized vetting center using advanced screening tools.
Individual stories illustrate the impact. In Florida, Anyi Cabrales, a Cuban national, prepared for her Dec. 1 ceremony only to receive a cancellation call hours before the oath. In Massachusetts, a Haitian immigrant of more than 20 years was removed from the line at a Dec. 4 ceremony. Such abrupt cancellations can inflict both emotional and legal harm on applicants who have completed nearly the entire naturalization process.
Community And Program Effects
USCIS also stopped coordinating ceremonies in donated public venues such as libraries, theaters, and historical sites, preferring to hold ceremonies in USCIS field offices or federal buildings. This can force applicants to travel farther and wait longer. At the same time, the agency halted disbursement of USCIS grants that funded community-based citizenship preparation programs, jeopardizing local classes and services that help immigrants prepare for interviews and tests.
In Rhode Island and other states with sizable refugee and immigrant populations, these funding cuts and application freezes have disrupted services and left many unable to file or complete naturalization steps for months.
Legal And Practical Consequences
Legal aid groups report increased denials for technical issues such as tax delinquencies even when applicants are on payment plans. With broader discretion for officers to assess "good moral character," applicants are now expected to document positive community ties, steady employment, caregiving responsibilities, and educational achievements. Some attorneys are advising clients to renew green cards rather than risk a naturalization application that could trigger scrutiny and jeopardize existing status.
“If you’re scheduled for an oath ceremony, you have gone through all of the checks that are required,” said Deborah Chen, supervising attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
USCIS Response And Next Steps
USCIS told reporters it changed ceremony coordination after a funding freeze earlier in the year and has signaled a preference for administrative ceremonies at field offices. The agency also plans a vetting center in Atlanta that will use expanded resources and new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to review applications from presidentially designated countries of concern.
Conclusion
Advocates warn that these policy shifts—ceremony cancellations, grant cuts, expanded vetting and neighborhood investigations—may disproportionately affect immigrant communities and slow the path to citizenship for many who have already completed most of the naturalization process. The full legal and social consequences will depend on how long the holds last and how USCIS implements the new procedures.
This article is based on reporting originally published by NBC News and includes statements from community organizations, applicants and USCIS public communications.
