The Department of Homeland Security will no longer participate in naturalization ceremonies at local state, county and city venues that have adopted a sanctuary policy that restricts local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The US Office of Citizenship (USCIS) leadership told employees in an email Monday to all field office employees that agents will no longer be participating in such events.
“USCIS will not participate in these state/local businesses for administrative ceremonies and will instead hold the ceremony in our offices, privately owned venues, or other federally owned/operated spaces,” the directive states. “If an entity in a sanctuary city requests that a ceremony be held, we request that the invitation be politely denied.”
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Immigrants will take the pledge of loyalty to the United States at a naturalization ceremony held in Newark, New Jersey on February 1, 2023. 35 became American citizens at an event held by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Federal Building in Newark. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)
For example, if the city of Los Angeles wants to hold a naturalization ceremony at a library, museum or school, USCIS will not participate. That is, the event could not be held.
The ritual is the final step towards becoming a US citizen and the place where the pledge of loyalty is taken.
A senior DHS official told Fox News that Sanctuary Policies puts public and law enforcement at risk.
“The Sanctuary policy is an insult to our constitution, and they put all levels of law enforcement at risk, and they leave law-abiding American citizens across the country with the mercy of violent and dangerous criminals,” the official said. “The US is still welcoming people who will come here and complete the naturalization process legally. USCIS just does people in places where the rule of law is still respected.”
The change does not affect the likelihood that someone will become a naturalized American citizen, USCIS said.
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The ice arrests are 81 illegal aliens as part of a joint federal law enforcement project in Kentucky, of which 25 have been charged with felony crimes. (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency)
The Trump administration is targeting sanctuary cities as it moves into large-scale deportation efforts.
U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforces US immigration laws nationwide, but it seeks state and local support, and often asks local police and sheriffs for assistance to alert deported people.
Agency often asks local authorities to retain illegal criminal immigrants until federal officers obtain custody of suspects. However, some jurisdictions ignore the request and return illegal immigrants to the streets.
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The Trump administration has proposed cutting federal funding to cities that adopt sanctuary policies in an effort to exercise money as a tool to jurisdiction that hinders deportation efforts.
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