About a dozen of us walked into a US immigration office in Virginia on Saturday morning, people born all over the world excited to take the final step in becoming American citizens. We clutched our naturalisation notices as we filed through security and lined up at the check-in desk. Soon, we would raise our right hands and swear the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a ceremony that is known as both solemn and celebratory. Carrying small American flags, we would walk out citizens. But then, abruptly, we learned the ceremony had been cancelled because of the government shutdown. "You should have been notified," said the staff member at the desk. None of us had received any emails or phone calls. The staff at the entrance had let us in without warning, raising the possibility that they too… (Updated 14 Oct 2025, 00:53 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- About a dozen of us walked into a US immigration office in Virginia on Saturday morning, people born all over the world excited to take the final step in becoming American citizens
- We clutched our naturalisation notices as we filed through security and lined up at the check-in desk
- Soon, we would raise our right hands and swear the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a ceremony that is known as both solemn and celebratory