At a naturalization ceremony in Indianapolis on March 14, 2024, several applicants from countries classified as “high-risk” by the Department of Homeland Security were turned away, resulting in an incomplete ceremony. While the event was expected to welcome 100 new citizens, only 83 individuals were able to take the oath of citizenship, leaving several reserved seats empty.
Witnesses reported that at least three people were denied entry, including one applicant from Niger. Kate Sweeney Bell, who observed the event, recounted the experience of a man who arrived prepared to take the oath but was unexpectedly turned away. “He brought his paperwork, he showed up to take the oath and was turned away,” she stated.
According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency has paused all adjudications for applicants from high-risk countries to conduct thorough vetting and screening. This measure follows a similar incident on December 9, 2022, when more than 30 applicants were denied entry to a naturalization ceremony. The spokesperson emphasized, “The safety of the American people always comes first, and the pause will ensure additional screening for each person.”
For those who successfully became citizens, the day was marked by emotional significance. Siddharth Bose, who has lived through a lengthy immigration process, shared his thoughts on the gravity of being turned away at this final stage. “My journey here started 30 years ago — a lot of paperwork, a lot of specific understanding of what you have to do,” he explained. For Bose and his family, achieving citizenship meant more than just a legal status; it symbolized the end of a long journey and the establishment of a true home. “It’s finally great to call some place home, especially the U.S.,” he remarked.
Another new citizen, Satnam Singh, expressed his joy at having reached this milestone. “I’m really happy. Finally, I got my citizenship after a long time. I’m so happy,” he said, highlighting the personal triumph that citizenship represents for many immigrants.
The Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies continue to impact applicants from various nations. Recent reports indicate that USCIS field offices have been instructed to escalate litigation in denaturalization cases, alongside existing entry restrictions on immigrants from 19 countries, primarily in the Middle East and Africa.
As the naturalization ceremony concluded, the stark contrast between those who celebrated their new citizenship and those who faced unexpected barriers underscored the challenges many immigrants continue to navigate in their quest for a new beginning in the United States.
