Local leaders in Westchester County calling on government to reinstate naturalization ceremonies
WESTCHESTER COUNTY (WABC) — Executives in Westchester County are calling on federal officials to reinstate local naturalization ceremonies, which are the final process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
In White Plains on Wednesday, they criticized the decision that came from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
USCIS abruptly cancelled a naturalization ceremony on November 12 and halted all future ceremonies, according to an email from an official with the Department of Homeland Security.
“We are a nation of immigrants. Let’s not make it more difficult for immigrants to become part of our nation,” Westchester County legislator David Imamura said.
Advocates say the decision is problematic and that new citizens’ families might not be able to attend the momentous event.
“Discontinuing them creates a real barrier for families already balancing work, childcare and other responsibilities,” Westchester County Executive Kenneth Jenkins said.
The feds want it to happen at 26 Federal Plaza, which has been a recent flashpoint for immigrant issues.
“It forces these folks to go down to 26 Federal Plaza, where there have been some notorious issues concerning ICE and things of that sort,” Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni said.
County executives say they have offered to work with federal partners on staffing and logistical support so the ceremonies can be reinstated.
So far, no one has taken them up on that, they said.
County leaders say immigrants will be naturalized eventually but it could take months.
Congressman Mike Lawler told Eyewitness News that he spoke to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow earlier today and “made the case for why these ceremonies should be restored and why the policy should be rescinded.”
USCIS told the county clerks they concluded local courts did not meet federal requirements to conduct naturalization ceremonies, and immigrants would have to travel to federal buildings like 26 Federal Plaza to complete the final citizenship requirements and to receive naturalization certificates.
In a statement from the USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser, he said, “USCIS is dedicated to ensuring that all aspects of the naturalization process comply with federal law. After reviewing the jurisdiction of certain New York county courts under the Immigration and Nationality Act, we have determined that these courts do not meet the statutory requirements to conduct naturalization ceremonies. As a result, USCIS will transition from judicial to administrative ceremonies to ensure compliance with the law.”
“The explanation I was given was that the courts were not the lawful courts by which to conduct these naturalization ceremonies,” Lawler said.
Lawler said he explained to USCIS and how the counties were “lawfully permitted to do it.”
Seven counties were notified that they could no longer perform the naturalization ceremonies. Lawler said he could not get a reason why those seven were contacted.
“It wasn’t specific to those seven. I think there may have been a little bit of jumping the gun here with the notifications and decisions. I am hopeful, after speaking with the director, that we can get this resolved,” he said.
Lawler says after productive conversations with USCIS leadership, he is optimistic that the naturalization ceremonies will be restored.
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