Dozens of hopeful immigrants gathered at a US immigration office in Virginia on Saturday morning, ready to take the final step in becoming American citizens. Holding small US flags and naturalisation notices, they expected to swear the Oath of Allegiance and celebrate a milestone years in the making. But their joy quickly turned to disbelief when officials informed them that the ceremony had been cancelled because of the ongoing government shutdown. None of them had received prior notice, and even the staff appeared unaware of the cancellation. When attendees later checked the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, it showed their appointments had been called off days earlier “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The shutdown’s ripple effects have now reached the immigration process, leaving many in limbo. For some, this was not just a ceremony but the end of a long, exhausting journey through paperwork, background checks, and interviews. One woman, visibly nervous, asked if she was being turned away because of her hijab, while a man who had brought his family to celebrate his citizenship left anxious and disheartened. The USCIS, which is mainly funded through application fees, typically continues operating during shutdowns. However, Director Joseph Edlow said on X that public-facing services such as interviews and oath ceremonies can still face delays to comply with legal requirements. He apologised for the disruptions but gave no timeline for rescheduling.
As of now, it remains unclear how many ceremonies nationwide have been cancelled, and uncertainty hangs heavy for thousands awaiting their moment of recognition as Americans. Many were told to return on 1 November, but with no end to the shutdown in sight, even that date is uncertain. The political deadlock in Washington has already put over 700,000 federal workers on unpaid leave, and now it has crushed one of the most meaningful milestones in the immigrant journey — the moment of officially calling the United States home.
