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Listen

Ali Velshi Talks Trump’s Attack on Legal Immigration

The MS NOW host and Citizen board member reports that naturalization ceremonies across the country are being canceled at the last minute.

Listen

Ali Velshi Talks Trump’s Attack on Legal Immigration

The MS NOW host and Citizen board member reports that naturalization ceremonies across the country are being canceled at the last minute.

BY Ali Velshi

Dec. 15, 2025

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Since the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington D.C. by an Afghan refugee, the Trump administration has enacted new travel and visa restrictions from 19 specific countries. Reports are now coming in nationwide of individuals literally waiting in line for their naturalization ceremony to begin or about to walk into naturalization interviews, only to be stopped by officials and told that these final steps in the process have been canceled.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlined in a statement that a pause on immigration processing for “aliens from high-risk countries” would enable vetting and screening “to the maximum degree possible.” But as Ali Velshi points out, these people have already been vetted and screened over several years, have long ago met residency requirements and passed exams for civics and English. These are legal immigrants who have made it to the final step in a long process.

More than a formality, the citizenship ceremony where new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance is a legal requirement to become a naturalized citizen. Canceling these ceremonies is creating fear and confusion, leaving people who have worked legally for years to become Americans in limbo. Trump claims his immigration crackdown is about the “worst of the worst” criminals coming into our country. But this is an assault on legal immigration.

LISTEN: AN ASSAULT ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION

 

WATCH: VELSHI ON NATURALIZATION THWARTED

 

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