Just when you thought that the Trump administration couldn’t sink any lower, there’s this moment in history. Immigrants approved for citizenship were ‘plucked out’ of line moments before pledging allegiance — the final step in the citizenship process.
The immigrants were already approved to be naturalized following years of going through the proper steps including legally acquiring a green card, undergoing extensive interviews, multiple background checks, classes and a citizenship test.
Immigrants Approved for Citizenship ‘Plucked Out’ of Line Moments Before Pledging Allegiance: Report https://t.co/0safHDLixi
— People (@people) December 7, 2025
From PEOPLE:
The scene unfolded at Boston’s Faneuil Hall on Thursday, Dec. 4, according to the report from WGBH, a National Public Radio member station.
As people who were already approved to be naturalized — having completed the lengthy U.S. citizenship process — lined up to pledge allegiance, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials told them they could not continue due to their countries of origin, the outlet reported.
USCIS officials took individuals from the line because the federal agency has directed its employees to halt all immigration applications for nationals from the 19 countries that already faced travel restrictions since June due to a proclamation from President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration designated the list of largely African and Asian countries as high-risk.
Similar scenes are reportedly happening across the U.S.
One woman from Haiti — who has had a green card since the early 2000s — said that she had gone to her oath ceremony “because she hadn’t received the cancellation notice in time.”
The list of 19 countries with full or partial restrictions includes Afghanistan, Haiti, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Immigrants approved to be naturalized went to Faneuil Hall for their citizenship ceremony to pledge allegiance to the USA. But instead, as they lined up, officials told them that they couldn’t proceed due to their countries of origin.
They were doing it the right way. pic.twitter.com/KuIIktsDk3— Lincoln Square (@LincolnSquareHQ) December 8, 2025
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