For Sanam, the journey to becoming an American citizen had taken more than a decade. It involved years of paperwork, background checks, interviews, exams, and security vetting — all culminating in what was meant to be a final, ceremonial step: taking the oath of allegiance to the United States.
That moment never came.
Just two days before her scheduled naturalisation ceremony on 3 December, the US government abruptly cancelled it. No explanation was given.
“I was shocked and confused,” Sanam told the BBC. “I hadn’t done anything wrong. I couldn’t understand how something like this could just disappear overnight.”
Only later did she learn the reason: the country where she was born.
Sanam, an Iranian immigrant who has lived in the US for more than ten years, is among a growing number of legal permanent residents whose citizenship ceremonies have been cancelled following a renewed push by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “After everything we’ve been through, it feels like we’re stuck in limbo.”
Citizenship Put on Hold
Earlier this month, the Trump administration began cancelling oath ceremonies for immigrants from 19 countries subject to an expanded US travel ban — most of them Muslim-majority or African nations, including Iran and Venezuela.
The decision affects not only new applicants, but also individuals who had already passed every stage of the citizenship process and were awaiting only the final oath.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that immigration processing for individuals from these countries has been halted at all stages, citing national security concerns.
Officials say the measures are necessary to “protect American lives” and ensure public safety.
Critics, however, argue the move amounts to a de facto ban — one that disproportionately targets people who have already undergone years of scrutiny.
A Life on Pause
Sanam lives in Oregon with her husband, a US citizen from Kansas. Fearing retaliation, both asked that their full names not be published. Their identities have been verified by the BBC.
“It just feels like our life is unstable,” Sanam said. “We’re at the mercy of what the government decides.”
Her husband described the timing as devastating.
“If this had happened one week later, my wife would already be a citizen,” he said. “It’s incredible how fast policies changed. It feels like the administration didn’t let a crisis go to waste.”
Sanam now finds herself questioning whether staying in the US is worth the uncertainty. She still has family in Iran, including elderly parents, and has no idea when — or if — she will be able to see them again.
“It’s hard to hold on to hope,” she said. “This is supposed to be a season of joy, but instead people are living in fear.”
Triggered by Violence
The policy shift followed a shooting on 26 November in Washington DC, where an Afghan national opened fire on National Guard members, killing one and critically injuring another.
In the days that followed, the Trump administration announced a wave of new security-driven immigration measures, including:
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The deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington DC
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The reduction of work visa validity from five years to 18 months
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A pause on all asylum claim decisions
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Expanded travel bans affecting 19 countries
Immigration advocates say the response unfairly punishes entire communities for the actions of one individual.
“An indefinite pause is a ban, plain and simple,” said Mario Bruzzone, vice president of policy at the New York Immigration Coalition.
“They’re using this shooting as a pretext to escalate attacks on immigrants and refugees.”
‘We Followed Every Rule’
Jorge, a Venezuelan immigrant living in the US, was also scheduled to become a citizen — until his ceremony was cancelled less than 24 hours beforehand.
“I had everything prepared,” he said. “My son was coming with me. Then suddenly it was cancelled with no explanation.”
Jorge, whose identity has been verified by the BBC, received permanent residency in 2017 under the “extraordinary ability” category — a designation reserved for professionals at the top of their field.
While he supports stricter immigration screening and even says he would have voted for Donald Trump, Jorge believes the new policy unfairly targets people who have complied with every legal requirement.
“I just want those of us who followed the rules to move forward,” he said. “And those who committed crimes should face consequences — not all of us.”
Years of Vetting, Then Uncertainty
Advocacy groups point out that immigrants affected by the ban — including refugees, asylum seekers, and permanent residents — have already undergone extensive background checks that often take years.
According to the New York Immigration Coalition, more than 130,000 Venezuelan-born people lived in New York state alone in 2023.
“The uncertainty is enormous,” Mr Bruzzone said. “People don’t know if this pause will last weeks, months, or forever.”
A Broader Message
President Trump has framed the expanded travel ban as a necessary security measure. But critics argue it revives the logic of earlier policies that courts and rights groups described as discriminatory.
Placards reading “No Muslim Ban, No African Ban” have once again appeared at protests across major US cities.
For people like Sanam, the consequences are deeply personal.
“We were almost there,” she said. “Almost American.”
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