Federal officials have reversed a sudden decision to cancel naturalization ceremonies in at least seven New York counties, days after Times Union exposed the quiet policy shift and sparked bipartisan outrage.
USCIS said it would resume ceremonies statewide after pressure from elected leaders, including Rep. Mike Lawler and Sen. Chuck Schumer. Critics called the cancellations a denial of citizenship access and slammed the agency’s vague legal justification.
The reversal comes amid other USCIS changes affecting new citizens, including cuts to reimbursements and restrictions on voter registration at ceremonies — now the subject of a federal lawsuit.
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