At least three people were turned away from a naturalization ceremony in Indianapolis on Thursday as federal officials implement enhanced screening for applicants from what the Department of Homeland Security calls “high-risk countries.”
The ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial was expected to welcome 100 new citizens, but only 83 people took the oath of citizenship. Several reserved seats remained empty as some were denied their moment after years or decades of waiting.
“The man I saw that was turned away — he was blindsided. He brought his paperwork, he showed up to take the oath and was turned away,” said Kate Sweeney Bell, Marion County Clerk.
One man who was turned away told WRTV he received a phone call notifying him his ceremony was canceled, but he didn’t know why…