CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DEMANDS URGENT ANSWERS FROM USCIS REGARDING ABRUPT CANCELLATION OF NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES IN HUDSON VALLEY

Congressman Pat Ryan Demands Urgent Answers from USCIS Regarding Abrupt Cancellation of Naturalization Ceremonies in Hudson Valley

Following recent reporting that naturalization ceremonies in Dutchess and Ulster Counties would not take place as scheduled, Congressman Pat Ryan is demanding answers from USCIS

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, following recent reporting that naturalization ceremonies in Dutchess and Ulster Counties would not take place as scheduled, Congressman Pat Ryan is urgently demanding answers from USCIS.

"People who came to this country, who came to our community, to build a better life for themselves and their families should be commended and rewarded for their hard work - not shunned by our legal system without warning or reason. I've been to these ceremonies, they are joyful occasions representing the very best of what our community can be," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "For USCIS to cancel previously scheduled hearings for people that have been in this process for years, decades even, is a fundamental slap in the face to our community and the American dream as a whole. Cancelling naturalization ceremonies for people who have followed every legal process, met every qualification, and gone to every court day is more than wrong - it's deeply un-American. The Hudson Valley deserves answers, and we won't stop fighting until we get them."

The text of Congressman Ryan's letter to USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow can be found below:

Dear Director Edlow,

I am reaching out on behalf of my entire community in strong opposition to the cancellation of and lack of clarity surrounding naturalization ceremonies in Dutchess and Ulster Counties. I am demanding answers to ensure that no law-abiding new Americans are left behind amid unclear, uncommunicated procedural shifts.

A permanent policy change of this nature would pose a significant burden for people in the Hudson Valley. Forcing them to travel to New York City or Albany to take their Naturalization Oaths not only incurs financial and logistical costs - a multiple-hour drive and money on bridge tolls and gas - it also robs them of the right to celebrate their new commitment to our great nation at home in their communities surrounded by friends and family.

I request answers to the following questions no later than Dec. 12, 2025:

1. Please detail the current status of naturalization ceremonies in Dutchess County, Orange County, and Ulster County, New York.
   1. Are the naturalization ceremonies being postponed, or cancelled altogether?
      1. If postponed, when will the ceremonies resume?
   2. Is this a consolidation of ceremonies?
      1. If so, will multiple counties be held at once in one location?
2. If there is a pause or cancellation, how is USCIS working to ensure all vetted and eligible individuals naturalize?
   1. Please confirm that the pause and/or cancellations do not impact individuals' statuses and ability to naturalize.
3. What communication has USCIS provided to County Clerks and impacted individuals about what to expect moving forward? Please share that communication.
4. Please clarify whether USCIS maintains any quota, numerical threshold, or other formal guideline that determines how many applicants must be scheduled to be naturalized before a ceremony can be conducted?
   1. If such a policy exists, could you indicate when it was established and how it is currently applied?

I look forward to your quick response. Thank you.

Sincerely,

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