Naturalization ceremonies across several New York counties have been unexpectedly cancelled after the federal government announced that certain local courts no longer qualify to oversee the process.
This shift has created confusion for officials, immigrants, and communities preparing to welcome new citizens.
Federal Government Ends Court-Led Naturalizations
The federal government has officially stopped allowing county courts and state supreme court justices in New York to handle citizenship ceremonies.
Many events—some of which had already been scheduled—were cancelled without prior notice, including one in Onondaga County.
Local officials first learned of the cancellations when multiple ceremonies across New York were abruptly removed from the schedule. A federal spokesperson later confirmed the reason behind the decision.
USCIS: Local Courts Don’t Meet Legal Requirements
According to a statement shared with NewsChannel 9, federal authorities conducted a review of certain New York county courts under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
After the review, they concluded that these courts do not meet the statutory requirements to legally perform naturalization ceremonies.
Because of this, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will shift from judge-led judicial ceremonies to administrative ceremonies conducted directly by the agency.
What the USCIS Says
USCIS clarified that all immigrants who were scheduled for ceremonies at the affected courts will be rescheduled, and their naturalization process will continue through administrative channels.
Impact Felt in Onondaga County
Onondaga County Clerk Emily Bersani confirmed that the Nov. 19 ceremony she arranged was cancelled with no detailed explanation. She has also not received updates about future ceremonies planned for 2026, including the annual New Americans Day event at the New York State Fair.
Typically, naturalization ceremonies inside courthouses are led by a judge, whereas administrative ceremonies are hosted at USCIS regional offices.
Uncertainty Over Federal Court Ceremonies
It remains unclear whether this policy change affects naturalizations normally held in federal courtrooms, such as those conducted at the Federal Building in Downtown Syracuse.
The Northern District of New York still displays multiple upcoming ceremonies on its public schedule. A district spokesperson confirmed that, for now, those ceremonies are proceeding as planned.
Lawmakers Speak Out Against the Decision
Senator Lea Webb
State Senator Lea Webb expressed deep concern, saying the cancellations undermine the dedication of families who have spent years navigating the immigration system.
She called the decision “unacceptable” and urged the full restoration of ceremonies so communities can continue to welcome new citizens with dignity.
Senator Chris Ryan
State Senator Chris Ryan criticized the move as “unpatriotic” and inconsistent with American values. He highlighted that Onondaga County alone has already hosted twenty naturalization ceremonies this year, with more planned.
Ryan emphasized that immigrants work tirelessly to meet all legal requirements, and ending local ceremonies sends the wrong message. He urged the USCIS and federal officials to reconsider and reinstate the events across Upstate New York.
The sudden halt of county-led naturalization ceremonies has raised serious concerns among local officials, immigrants, and lawmakers.
While USCIS insists the change is necessary to ensure compliance with federal law, many argue that the cancellations disrupt meaningful milestones for new Americans and weaken long-standing traditions of welcoming immigrants into U.S. citizenship.
As communities await clarity on upcoming ceremonies, the call for federal authorities to reverse the decision continues to grow.
