CAIR-NY Sues to Compel USCIS to Schedule Albanian Muslim New Yorker’s Naturalization Oath Ceremony After 58 Month Delay
CAIR-NY Sues to Compel USCIS to Schedule Albanian Muslim New Yorker’s Naturalization Oath Ceremony After 58 Month Delay
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 9/19/2019) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, filed suit to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to schedule Rudina Cinari’s Naturalization Oath ceremony.
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The suit alleges that immigration officials granted Ms. Cinari’s naturalization application in November 2014. USCIS scheduled Ms. Cinari’s oath ceremony but canceled it a week later. The suit alleges that immigration officials unlawfully re-opened Ms. Cinari’s naturalization application and have failed to reschedule her oath ceremony despite granting her application more than 58 months ago. The suit seeks a court order compelling USCIS to re-schedule Ms. Cinari’s oath ceremony so she can become a U.S. citizen.
The lawsuit is being filed by CAIR-NY and Davis, Ndanusa, Ikhlas & Saleem LLP on behalf of Ms. Cinari.
CAIR-NY’s Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed stated:
“A 58-month delay in re-scheduling an oath ceremony is preposterous and represents an egregious abuse of power by USCIS. This case is a representation of what is wrong with our naturalization process and is only a sample of the issues faced by Muslim Americans when seeking to become U.S. citizens. Ms. Cinari has been unjustly deprived of her rights and the benefits that come with being a U.S. citizen. She dreams of one day casting a ballot in an election, and we intend on making that a reality.”
Davis, Ndanusa, Ikhlas & Saleem LLP Attorney Mohammad Saleem stated:
“We are honored to represent Ms. Cinari in her fight to become a U.S. citizen. Unreasonably delays occur too often to our Muslim clients, and we do not hesitate to hold USCIS accountable for their flagrant abuse of the naturalization process.”
Muslim New Yorkers who have had their naturalization applications unreasonably delay are urged to contact CAIR-NY for assistance by filing an incident report online https://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/ or calling 646.665.7599.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Davis Ndanusa Ikhlas & Saleem LLP is a full service litigation law firm located in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. With over 60 years of combined experience amongst their attorneys, they are committed to serving the Muslim community as well the entire five borough community.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed, ahmedmohamed@cair.com; 646-481-2103