Local naturalization ceremonies have been reinstated in Tompkins County, according to the county clerk’s office.
The naturalization ceremony is the final step in the process of becoming a United States citizen.
In November 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent letters to seven county clerks, including in Tompkins and Broome counties, informing them that scheduled naturalization ceremonies would be halted indefinitely. A spokesperson for the agency told WSKG that USCIS determined the counties "do not meet the statutory requirements to conduct naturalization ceremonies.”
Administrative ceremonies conducted by USCIS, rather than local courts, were not interrupted.
Hudson Valley Republican Congressman Mike Lawler later said he had spoken to USCIS and they would resume the ceremonies. However, at the time, the Tompkins County clerk’s office said they had not received information from USCIS regarding reversals.
Tompkins County Executive Deputy Clerk Rachel Graham told WSKG that changed earlier this month.
“We received an email from USCIS April 8th asking whether we were all set for the May 14th ceremony - with no acknowledgment that we had ever been told ceremonies were cancelled,” Graham wrote. “We were not ready, but after months of trying to get the ceremonies reinstated, we were not about to say we couldn't host.”
On Wednesday, Graham told WSKG that there are now three ceremonies scheduled for 2026 in May, July, and September.
Graham said her office is “genuinely thrilled” to be able to host the ceremonies again.
“The confusion over the past several months was deeply unfortunate - there was no good reason for the cancellations or for the lack of communication - and we are glad to be moving forward,” Graham told WSKG.
Graham said her office has “reason to believe” that applicants were given paperwork that indicated the ceremony would be held at the county courthouse. She added that the county clerk’s office told USCIS the ceremony would instead be performed at the Tompkins County Public Library and was “told they would inform applicants of the location change.”
Last month, the Binghamton University's Pipe Dream, reported that naturalization ceremonies had restarted in Broome County.
