Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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In Minnesota, the final step to becoming a U.S. citizen is becoming harder to reach.

Oath ceremonies – once large, celebratory events – have dropped significantly in both size and frequency over the past year – as the federal government delays or cancels some of them. 

For many applicants, that means waiting without a clear timeline after already being approved for citizenship.

Just over a year ago, Minnesota regularly held large, public naturalization ceremonies, often with hundreds of people at a time.

Amy Perna, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, says that has changed dramatically.

She says there used to be about four ceremonies each month, but now it’s down to just one – a drop the U.S. District Court of Minnesota has also confirmed.

The number of new citizens coming through those ceremonies has also fallen.

“In March of 2025 the League registered 1,037 new citizens to vote. The following month, in April of 2025, we were down to 214. This year, there are even less so. In January of this year, we registered 38 new citizens to vote. February was 40, March was 52,” Perna said. 

That’s a steep decline from roughly 500 people per ceremony just a year ago to just a few dozen today.

Perna says the change has been noticeable and emotional.

“It's really, it's sad for us. It's sad to see the numbers dwindle so much, and to wonder why,” she said.

The League, which has registered new citizens to vote at ceremonies for decades, says it has not received a clear explanation for the shift.

The changes in Minnesota reflect a broader pattern.

Federal officials have canceled a growing number of naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies in the Twin Cities and across the country in recent months. 

Immigration attorney David Wilson says the slowdown is showing up clearly in his caseload.

“Back in October, there was a series of oath ceremonies that were scheduled and then were suddenly canceled without any explanation,” he said. “And it wasn't just one or two. It felt like all of them.”

Since then, he says, very few of his clients have actually made it through – only two out of about 100 who haven't been scheduled for a ceremony. 

"The number is growing every day. There is a large contingent of people out there in the cities who were expecting to become citizens in 2025 and are still waiting at this point in 2026 just to do the ceremony,” Wilson said. 

And even earlier steps in the process appear to be slowing down.

Wilson points to increased scrutiny from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

“There is a backlog building. The agency is doing some extra vetting. It's clear that they're asking different questions than they used to."

In a statement to MPR News, USCIS says the agency is implementing “rigorous screening and vetting processes,” including expanded background checks, stricter English requirements, and efforts to ensure applicants demonstrate “good moral character.”

Nationally, some policy changes have included 

 or additional reviews for certain groups of applicants, contributing to delays. 

Wilson says he’s seeing signs of that increased scrutiny in practice.

“The agency is doing some extra vetting. They're asking different questions than they used to,” he said.

As delays stretch on, some applicants are starting to push back in court.

Wilson says people who have already been interviewed may have legal options.

“The 120 day clock has run for most of these people,” he said, referring to a federal provision that allows applicants to seek judicial action if a decision isn’t made in time.

He expects to see more lawsuits in the coming months.

In some cases, federal judges can step in and complete the naturalization process themselves.

The delays are especially significant because the oath ceremony is required to officially become a citizen.

“You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance,” according to USCIS guidance.

For many applicants, reaching that point takes years.

Perna says the ceremony marks a major life milestone.

“It marks the end of a long journey and the beginning of another one.” 

But when ceremonies are canceled or delayed, that moment is put on hold.

Wilson says that uncertainty can take a toll.

“They were told they were approved, they got a notice when they left the interview. You know, ‘you've been approved, everything looks great. We'll contact you for the ceremony.’ And subsequent to that, they're told ‘your ceremony is canceled,’ but they're not told why.”

For now, ceremonies are still happening in Minnesota – but on a much smaller scale.

Advocates say the lack of transparency has made it difficult to understand whether the slowdown is temporary or part of a longer-term shift.

And for those waiting to take the oath, the finish line remains just out of reach.

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Sarah Thamer

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Just over a year ago, Minnesota regularly held large, public naturalization ceremonies, often with hundreds of people at a time. But since then, new vetting procedures by federal immigration officials have led to dwindling numbers of ceremonies and the number of people who participate in them.

Oath ceremonies decline sharply in Minnesota, leaving many immigrants in limbo

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