Federal government cancels naturalization ceremonies in Hudson Valley counties; lawmakers contest decision
Lawler said that in his talks with immigration and Homeland Security officials he was told that certain counties do not have jurisdiction based on courts that are overseeing the naturalization.
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Rep. Mike Lawler is demanding the federal government reverse its decision to cancel all immigrant naturalization ceremonies in Rockland and Westchester.
The New York City field office for U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services sent letters to the clerks from both counties informing them they will no longer be hosting the ceremonies, forcing local immigrants to take their final oaths of allegiance in New York City.
"Hope this email finds you well!" began a letter from the field office to Rockland County Clerk Donna Silberman. "Please be advised that the December 5th Rockland ceremony has been cancelled. All candidates scheduled to take the Naturalization Oath will be notified individually and provided with information regarding rescheduling."
Lawler, who represents Rockland and parts of Westchester and Dutchess, sent a letter to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, saying "we owe it to these new Americans not to pull the rug out from under them."
Lawler said that in his talks with immigration and Homeland Security officials he was told that certain counties do not have jurisdiction based on courts that are overseeing the naturalization.
Lawler has asked for a detailed, written explanation of that reasoning.
"I'm going to keep fighting like hell to get this reversed," Lawler said Tuesday evening in a Zoom interview. "And get these ceremonies resumed in Rockland and Westchester counties, and I certainly am optimistic about it."
Silberman said that when she received the letter, she notified Lawler right away.
She had been holding onto hope the decision might be reversed before the Rockland's Dec. 5 ceremony.
"We were going to wait until Friday to see, because we reached out hoping they would reach back and say it was back on," Silberman said, "but we are getting a lot of inquiries right now about it, and right now we have to tell people that it's been canceled."
The decision applies to counties under the purview of the New York City field office, which includes Rockland and Westchester Counties.
Putnam and Dutchess counties are overseen by the Albany field office and are not directly affected.
