"That was the case for Mailan Pacios, a 28-year-old Cuban immigrant living in Tennessee, who was scheduled to take her citizenship exam on January 8, only to receive a notice on January 3 that her appointment had been canceled. It was like a bucket of cold water. It's very painful when you come with the hope of moving forward and this happens, says Pacios, who has two children, owns an air-conditioning business, and insists she has never had legal problems nor been a public burden."
"To obtain U.S. citizenship, applicants typically must have been permanent residents for at least five years and pass an exam assessing their knowledge of U.S. civics and history, as well as their English skills, through oral, reading, and writing tests. To prepare, Pacios bought a $300 course with sample exam questions and studied English for a year at a local college."
"Citizenship is the most important benefit of the U.S. immigration system. For the government, naturalization represents the full integration of an immigrant who has met a series of legal and civic requirements. For most immigrants, it is the most coveted benefit, representing stability and a sense of belonging. When they obtain citizenship, immigrants pledge to uphold the U.S. Constitution and participate in the democratic life of the country, which includes duties such as jury service, defending the nation, and the right to vote."
Stricter policies and suspended processing have made U.S. naturalization more difficult, leaving many applicants in limbo. Mailan Pacios, a 28-year-old Cuban permanent resident in Tennessee, saw her January citizenship exam appointment canceled days earlier, despite preparing with a $300 course and a year of English study. Naturalization typically requires five years of permanent residency and passing civics and English tests, including oral, reading, and writing components. Citizenship confers stability, belonging, and civic duties such as jury service and voting. Many immigrants seek citizenship to fully integrate, gain political participation, and secure long-term stability for themselves and their families.
Read at english.elpais.com
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