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Wu Condemns Canceled Boston Citizenship Oaths Tied to Federal Vetting Pause

Boston officials denounced a federal vetting pause for nationals of 19 countries that canceled local oaths, leaving hundreds of cases in limbo.

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, Executive Director of Project Citizenship Gail Breslow, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hold a press conference in Faneuil Hall to address the cancelation of naturalization ceremonies for some immigrants.
Boston, MA – October 18: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu addresses the crowd during the No Kings rally on Boston Common on October 18, 2025. (Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • At a Faneuil Hall news conference, Mayor Michelle Wu criticized federal authorities after approved applicants were turned away from Dec. 4 naturalization ceremonies based on their countries of origin.
  • USCIS has ordered a halt to adjudications for people from 19 designated high‑risk countries, including Haiti, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Somalia.
  • Project Citizenship reports 21 Massachusetts clients have had oath ceremonies canceled and roughly 250 clients have been stalled at some point in the process.
  • Most canceled-oath clients cited by the group are from Haiti, with additional cases from Venezuela and Eritrea, including a Haitian woman who has lived lawfully in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
  • DHS says the exclusions are to ensure maximum vetting, and advocates say USCIS is establishing a new vetting center in Atlanta while offering no timeline to resume affected cases.