Jayapal, Fletcher Demand Answers as Trump Cancels Immigration Applications, Citizenship Ceremonies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, Integrity, and Enforcement, and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) are demanding answers after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they would indefinitely pause the immigration process for nationals from the countries listed in Trump’s travel ban.

“Without clarity on how long this broad pause will last, soon-to-be citizens will be left in limbo for perpetuity, and families will be forced to remain separated,” wrote the Members. “What is clear is that no amount of vetting, moral character, or commitment to this country and its democratic values is enough to satiate the Trump Administration.”

Based solely on immigrants’ country of origin, Trump’s USCIS is both pausing and canceling green card interviews, applications, naturalization interviews, and even oath ceremonies for immigrants who have completed rigorous vetting and have secured citizenship. These are people who have followed every process and undergone extensive and repeated vetting to secure legal status.

“These naturalization ceremonies are a time of celebration, as soon-to-be U.S. citizens welcome their friends and family to witness their achievement of becoming a U.S. citizen. To deny this monumental achievement to those who have waited years, if not decades, to pledge the Oath of Allegiance. Delaying their naturalization through no fault of their own is a slap in the face to all those who have devoted their time and energy to become U.S. citizens,” continued the Members. “This sweeping action is unjustified, discriminatory, and inconsistent with our nation’s founding principles.”

The Members are demanding answers on a timeline for when the pause will be lifted, any new background and security checks that are being run in the meantime, and a full report to Congress. 

The full text of the letter can be found here.

The letter was also signed by Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-27), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herbert Conway (NJ-03), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy”  García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), John Larson (CT-01), Summer Lee (PA-12), Susie Lee (NV-03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-09), John Mannion (NY-22), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Richard Neal (MA-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cotrez (NY14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

Issues: Immigration