Immigrants from "prohibited countries" removed from the citizenship ceremony line in the U.S.

What was supposed to be a historic day for dozens of immigrants in Boston turned into a scene of confusion and pain. Several aspiring U.S. citizens, ready to raise their hands and take their final oath in the historic Faneuil Hall, were informed, while already in line, that their ceremonies were being canceled due to their country of origin.

The situation, confirmed by NBC Boston, affects individuals from 19 countries classified by the federal government as "high risk," including Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

In all cases, the instruction from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was to suspend all immigration and naturalization pathways for nationals of those countries, until further notice.

Also, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) confirmed to NBC Boston that at least five people had their oath canceled in Boston, while another 40 who were in the process are now facing delays and complete uncertainty.

Elizabeth Sweet, director of MIRA, described the measure as "rude, cruel, and arbitrary. People are devastated and, understandably, outraged."

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also reacted strongly, stating, "It is despicable and deeply painful, especially in a place like Faneuil Hall, the cradle of liberty."

Officials were asking for the country of origin and removed those who were on the list

An independent report from WGBH, a station affiliated with National Public Radio, confirmed that USCIS officials were asking each immigrant about their country of origin upon arrival at the ceremony. If the individual mentioned one of the restricted countries, they were taken aside and informed that their oath was canceled.

Gail Breslow, director of Project Citizenship, shared that a Haitian client arrived at her ceremony because she did not receive the notification on time and was removed from the line in front of others.  “People are devastated and scared. They did not cancel the entire ceremony, only that of certain countries,” she said.

The notices sent through the USCIS portal, displayed by the organization, do not include explanations or instructions, which heightens the distress of those affected.

Although Boston has become a symbol of the human impact of this measure, the suspension is national.

According to reports from and federal memorandum PM-602-0192, the Trump administration ordered a halt to all immigration adjudications, including naturalizations, residencies, and asylum applications, for citizens of the 19 countries included in the new Proclamation 10949.

Among them is Cuba, which puts thousands of Cubans in the U.S. in a situation of delays, unexpected rescheduling, and increased scrutiny of their files.

A Cuban case that reflects the climate of fear

The testimony of the Cuban Anyi Cabrales, spread by Telemundo, illustrates the human impact that this policy is having outside of Boston.

She received the cancellation of her ceremony three hours before the oath. "It's terrible to live like this, in fear," she stated.