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ImmigrationProf Blog
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Citizenship Ceremonies Cancelled by COVID-19 [update for July 4 or CO SAC advisory]

By immigrationprof

Citizenship unlocks voting rights for immigrants in America, and the backlog in naturalization applications imperils it. The nationwide backlog (previously written about here) is now excerbated by COVID-19 agency closures and social distancing requirements that limit the size of the oath ceremony (written about here and here). 

July 4 is a focal moment for the nation to pay attention to becoming American and traditionally marked by ceremonial oath swearings that will be cancelled or shrunken this year by COVID-19 requirements. With the November 2020 elections coming, holding back immigrants from becoming citizens will be consequential, especially given the growing size of the Asian-American and Latinx electorate in swing states.

Update: I serve on a state advisory commission to the US Commission on Civil Rights that will be releasing a statement of concern about the issue of citizenship backlogs in COVID-19 this summer. When I covered this story for The Conversation in September 2019, it generated nationwide media interest that can be revitalized with the fresh impact of COVID-19 and approaching November 2020 elections.