ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Monroe County has been holding monthly naturalization ceremonies for new citizens for decades but that tradition may soon come to an abrupt end.
“We’ve been doing them for decades; it’s been several county clerks past me that have had the honor of swearing in new Americans,” says Jamie Romeo, Monroe County Clerk. There are plenty of folks locally, born in other countries, going through the established process to become U.S. citizens, “we have classes of new Americans between 40-60 per month that we do just here in Monroe County,” Romeo says.
But earlier this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told at least a half-dozen other upstate New York counties to cancel planned naturalization ceremonies. “To see these getting cancelled across the state are really concerning, we’re waiting to see what our future will be here in Monroe,” Romeo says.
Jennifer Lewke, News10NBC: “What reason are the feds giving for this?”
Jamie Romeo: “They’re not and that’s again where you’ve had these long partnerships with other governments about doing this incredibly patriotic duty that we have, to not have any real notice about why but to also to cancel them in perpetuity in the future for the new year, it’s very concerning.”
Jennifer Lewke: “Folks who are being sworn in here in Monroe County, where else would they go to do that?”
Jamie Romeo: “Likely they’d have to either report to probably the Buffalo field Office or Syracuse and it can be very difficult for people to get out there depending on their situations and we know, new Americans, not many are immigrating to our country with all of the things that they might need.”
So far, Romeo hasn’t gotten the same notification from USCIS as clerks in other upstate counties. She plans to continue hosting naturalization ceremonies scheduled in both December and January.
In a statement, USCIS Spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser tells News10NBC, “USCIS is dedicated to ensuring that all aspects of the naturalization process comply with federal law. After reviewing the jurisdiction of certain New York county courts under the Immigration and Nationality Act, we have determined that these courts do not meet the statutory requirements to conduct naturalization ceremonies. As a result, USCIS will transition from judicial to administrative ceremonies to ensure compliance with the law. Aliens scheduled for ceremonies at these courts will be rescheduled, and their naturalization process will continue.”
Tragesser did not respond to follow-up questions about whether ceremonies would continue in Finger Lakes counties that have not yet been notified by USCIS that they must cancel.
On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, New York) wrote to the Director of USCIS on Thursday demanding the agency reschedule these ceremonies. “Taking the Oath of Allegiance is not only a symbolic step that many and their families look forward to, but it is a legal requirement without which a person cannot become a U.S. citizen. It is therefore of upmost importance that these naturalization ceremonies take place and are not unnecessarily delayed,” the Senator wrote.
Feds tell Upstate NY counties to cancel naturalization ceremonies, leaving future of Monroe County’s decades-old tradition uncertain WHEC.com.
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