The Oath of Allegiance is the final step to become a citizen.
It comes after a years-long process that includes applications and fees, studying for and passing a civics and English test.
It’s supposed to be a moment of celebration and joy, but recent immigration policy changes have left the future uncertain for numerous hopeful citizens.
This month, 38 immigrants were denied access to their scheduled naturalization ceremony at Union Station in Indianapolis.
Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said she was shocked when she was told what had happened.
“To be turned away when they came to sign in, that is unconscionable,” Sweeney Bell said.
It comes as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration.
Earlier this month the Trump administration announced the pause of immigration cases for people from 19 countries including Afghanistan, Haiti and Myanmar. This week, the White House issued a proclamation that expanded travel restrictions to about 40 countries. A majority of the countries are located in Africa.
Similar occurrences of people being denied becoming citizens have been reported in states including Massachusetts and Florida.
Attorney Sharon Cruz said the immigration system has long struggled with helping people obtain a pathway to citizenship. But she said the increased restrictions put in place by the Trump administration have left her and her clients scared.
“The idea that we find that we now have an administration that is willing to abuse the dysfunction that we already had in our immigration system, it’s turning everyone, everyone’s assumptions about how to operate in this space on their head.”
Cruz said the fear continues to grow as the Supreme Court has agreed to hear President Donald Trump’s case to end birthright citizenship. That decision could affect millions of people in the country.
Another naturalization ceremony is scheduled for Thursday in Indianapolis.
Sweney Bell said she plans to be there and will give some remarks if allowed.
“Nothing will keep me from talking to these new citizens about how important their vote is,” she said. “I might give them a couple of different examples so they better understand that their vote weighs just as much as the President of the United States’ vote.”
Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05
