Thousands of immigrants continue to take the oath of allegiance to become US citizens as the country approaches its 250th anniversary, despite facing an increasingly restrictive immigration landscape.
According to The Guardian, the naturalization journey has become significantly more challenging under the current administration, which has introduced longer waiting times, higher filing fees, and stricter test standards.
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Yesica McKeone, a 32-year-old mother who migrated from Mexico at age two, officially became a citizen during a ceremony in California, marking the end of a long period of legal uncertainty.
However, her sense of achievement remains mixed with unease due to recent federal immigration enforcement actions occurring directly within her local community.
"You see around you people constantly being pushed out," said McKeone. "It's just weird times."
Advocacy groups report that the shifting political climate is actively discouraging some eligible permanent residents from moving forward with their citizenship applications.
Dahni Tsuboi, chief executive officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSocal), noted that some individuals choose to withdraw due to fear, costs, and aggressive enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security recently proposed escalating online citizenship application fees to $1,280, while paper applications would rise to $1,330, alongside ending fee waivers.
"Here we are celebrating our democracy while at the same time proposing a formal act that would make joining our democracy financially inaccessible for the most vulnerable people," said Tsuboi.
Despite these barriers, historical sites like Mount Vernon will host naturalization ceremonies for the upcoming national celebrations, symbolizing a reenactment of the country's founding moments.
