Trump Administration Targets New Citizens in Voter Suppression Push

Washington, D.C. — Today, in response to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reversing its policy guidance barring nongovernmental organizations from offering their voter registration services at naturalization ceremonies, Voto Latino issued the following statement: 

“USCIS’s latest policy change is a calculated effort by the Trump Administration to advance voter suppression. For immigrant communities, the journey to citizenship is often the work of years — sometimes decades — and requires thousands of dollars in fees and sacrifices along the way. Naturalization is not only a profound moment of pride, it is meant to be the gateway to full participation in our democracy, including the sacred right to vote.

More than 24 million naturalized citizens are eligible to vote—a population larger than New York or Florida. By denying trusted community organizations the ability to register people to vote at naturalization ceremonies, the government is making it harder for newly naturalized citizens to engage in the most American thing ever – participating in our democratic process. These nonpartisan groups exist solely to expand civic engagement and empower new citizens. 

Instead of addressing the real issues that strengthen our democracy—like expanding access to the ballot box, modernizing voter registration systems, and ensuring every eligible voter can participate—the administration is erecting new barriers that undermine our democracy.

This is not about protecting democracy, it is about controlling who gets to participate in it. America is strongest when every voice is heard, and every community is empowered to shape the future of our country.” 

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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.