Monday, December 15, 2025

One story among many about immigrants in the USA

I'm sure everyone has read more than they want or need about the immigration clampdown in the USA. I've certainly written more than I wamt or need about it. But this particular story on the BBC News website was especially poignant, I thought.

A woman, originally from Iran, moved to the US a decade ago. She is currently living with her husband (a US citizen) in Oregon. She has gone through all the right channels, step by step, and passed all the various tests, approvals and security vetting for citizenship. She was two days away from her naturalization ceremony which would officially make her a US citizen.

That was the point where the Trump government, in its wisdom summarily cancelled the oath-taking ceremony with no explanation or apology. It turns out that the only reason for the cancellation is the woman's Iranian origins. America is cancelling the citizenship ceremonies of all immigrants hailing from any of the 19 (mainly Muslim) countries that are already subject to a travel ban in the USA.

The woman is, understamdably, distraught. Not only is she not a US citizen, but she is now in the position of considering moving back to Iran, a country she feels little or no connection with, despite being married to a US citizen, having spent a decade or so in the country, and having jumped through all the required hoops.

And hers is far from the only such story.

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