Naturalization and Oath Ceremony Protection Act

This bill aims to guarantee that individuals whose applications for naturalization have been approved can complete the naturalization process. It explicitly grants approved applicants the right to attend a scheduled naturalization ceremony, take the oath of allegiance, and receive their certificate of naturalization. The legislation establishes strict limitations on when an approved applicant can be barred from a ceremony. Such an exclusion is only permissible if, after approval, the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, based on individualized and articulable facts , that the applicant is statutorily ineligible or that the approval was obtained through fraud or willful misrepresentation. Crucially, it prohibits exclusions based on generalized factors like nationality or categorical reviews not tied to individual eligibility. To ensure fairness, the bill mandates procedural protections for applicants facing exclusion, including written notice of the specific factual and legal basis, an opportunity to respond, and supervisory approval of the determination. It also allows for a limited emergency postponement for national security threats, provided specific conditions are met. Denials or postponements are subject to judicial review , and successful applicants can receive attorneys' fees and prompt rescheduling of their ceremony, reinforcing the enforceability of these new rights.