County clerks in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, New York, were notified on December 1 that their year-end naturalization ceremonies have been canceled because “statutory requirements were not met.” The emails, signed by USCIS Albany Field Office Director Gwynne Dinolfo, stated that the agency could not justify deploying officers if fewer than 50 applicants were ready, but invited local courts to re-schedule when numbers increase.
The decision arrives amid heightened scrutiny of the immigration agency’s shifting policies. Last month, USCIS walked back mass cancellations in neighboring counties after bipartisan criticism. Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck expressed frustration, noting the county had increased its list from 25 to 40 eligible citizens after scrambling to finalize background checks. Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall called the sudden reversal “disrespectful to immigrants who have waited years.”
![USCIS Cancels Naturalization Ceremonies in Upstate New York Citing ‘Lack of Candidates’]()
For employers, delayed oath ceremonies translate into prolonged I-9 updates, stalled security-clearance eligibility and postponed access to federal contracting roles that require citizenship. Human-resources teams should alert affected employees that Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) may be re-issued with new dates, and plan for continued work-authorization reverification where applicable.
Immigration attorneys speculate the move is linked to the October government shutdown and ongoing USCIS budget constraints. The agency relies heavily on fee revenue, and ceremony travel involves overtime costs for adjudications officers. Some observers also see a political signal as the Trump administration tightens eligibility reviews following recent asylum and refugee freezes.
Looking ahead, corporate mobility managers should track ceremony schedules regionally; smaller jurisdictions may see more consolidated events or a shift toward administrative (non-judicial) oaths at USCIS field offices. Offering paid time off and travel reimbursement for employees forced to attend ceremonies outside their home county can mitigate retention risks.
The decision arrives amid heightened scrutiny of the immigration agency’s shifting policies. Last month, USCIS walked back mass cancellations in neighboring counties after bipartisan criticism. Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck expressed frustration, noting the county had increased its list from 25 to 40 eligible citizens after scrambling to finalize background checks. Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall called the sudden reversal “disrespectful to immigrants who have waited years.”
For employers, delayed oath ceremonies translate into prolonged I-9 updates, stalled security-clearance eligibility and postponed access to federal contracting roles that require citizenship. Human-resources teams should alert affected employees that Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) may be re-issued with new dates, and plan for continued work-authorization reverification where applicable.
Immigration attorneys speculate the move is linked to the October government shutdown and ongoing USCIS budget constraints. The agency relies heavily on fee revenue, and ceremony travel involves overtime costs for adjudications officers. Some observers also see a political signal as the Trump administration tightens eligibility reviews following recent asylum and refugee freezes.
Looking ahead, corporate mobility managers should track ceremony schedules regionally; smaller jurisdictions may see more consolidated events or a shift toward administrative (non-judicial) oaths at USCIS field offices. Offering paid time off and travel reimbursement for employees forced to attend ceremonies outside their home county can mitigate retention risks.
