League of Women Voters of US among State and Local Leagues Sue USCIS, DHS and Other Federal Officials over Voter Registration Ban at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies
November 19, 2025 - ALBANY, NY- The League of Women Voters of US, along with five states including Local Leagues have taken legal action against the United States Immigration Services (USCIS) and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal officials who have enacted a new rule preventing nonpartisan civic engagement groups from providing voter registration at naturalization ceremonies represented by Campaign Legal Center (CLC).
The League of Women Voter has long used its constitutional right to help newly naturalized Americans register to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies, a tradition that reflects its mission to empower voters and protect democracy. In August, however, USCIS issued a new rule that rolled back the previous policy and restricts voter-registration efforts at certain ceremonies to government officials only. In response, the League is suing USCIS, DHS, and other federal officials, arguing that the rule violates the First Amendment rights of the national, state, and local Leagues to engage in political expression and civic activity. The lawsuit also claims the agencies failed to follow the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires clear, transparent steps when creating new policies to prevent harm to the public.
“Purposely excluding groups like the League from administrative naturalization ceremonies is a deliberate move by this administration to deny new citizens access to the democratic process and attack the League’s very mission to register and support new voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “For decades, the League has been a fixture at naturalization ceremonies across the country, helping new Americans register to vote on the first day of their citizenship. Blocking our work with a sudden rule change is a direct attempt to prevent new voter registrations and block us from doing our critical work to provide new Americans the guidance and support they need to fully participate in civic life. The League will not be silenced.”
For many decades, the League of Women Voters has helped hundreds of thousands of newly naturalized U.S. citizens register to vote at ceremonies across the country. But because of the new USCIS policy, state and local Leagues have already had to call off at least 166 scheduled voter-registration events and opportunities where members and volunteers anticipated signing up roughly 10,000 new voters. This change directly impacting many of New York States local Leagues including League of Women Voters Saratoga County.
“Every new citizen in Saratoga County deserves a warm welcome and the chance to register to vote the moment they take their citizenship oath, which the League was always honored to provide,” said Lori Dawson, president of the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County. “Denying us access to administrative naturalization ceremonies sends the wrong message to the people who are courageously joining our democracy. It builds barriers instead of community.”
“Our democracy is strongest when every voter can participate easily and without barriers. Nonpartisan civic engagement groups like the League of Women Voters fill a critical public need by helping newly naturalized citizens access and exercise their freedom to vote,” said Alexandra Copper, legal counsel for strategic litigation at Campaign Legal Center. “The federal government’s attempts to limit these groups’ efforts are a direct attack on the constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in our political process. Civic-minded organizations and their members and volunteers who help Americans register to vote should not be targeted and punished, but instead should be supported and celebrated.”
Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can exercise their freedom to vote. The League of Women Voters of New York State support our Local Leagues and fellow State Leagues experiencing this push back and intend to work together to protect that freedom.