WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the League of Women Voters (LWV) and five state and local Leagues (the League) filed a lawsuit against the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal officials for enacting—abruptly and without following required process—a new rule that bars nonpartisan civic engagement groups from providing voter registration and promoting civic engagement to new US citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies. The League is represented by Campaign Legal Center (CLC).  

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots, membership-based civic engagement group that has long exercised its constitutionally protected right to engage new Americans in registering to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. This joyful event is a core part of the League’s mission to empower voters and defend democracy. But a new USCIS rule announced in August reversed prior policy and now allows only government officials to provide voter registration to new citizens after certain naturalization ceremonies.  

The League is suing USCIS, DHS and other federal officials for violating the First Amendment rights of the national League of Women Voters and state and local Leagues to engage in political speech and activities, and also for failing to adhere to provisions in the Administrative Procedure Act that require federal agencies to follow clearly defined and transparent procedures when adopting new policies, in order to avoid harming Americans.  

“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.” 

“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.” 

“This is a deeply troubling moment for our democracy,” said Beth Hendrix, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Colorado. “By working to silence the League of Women Voters, the federal government is sending a chilling message that civic participation is something to be controlled. This sets a dangerous precedent, and one that we cannot allow to stand.” 

“By banning the League of Women Voters from offering voter registration at naturalization ceremonies, USCIS is unlawfully restricting free speech and civic participation," said Jesse Burns, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “It’s a disservice to our fellow Americans and our democracy when the government intentionally makes it harder for new citizens to register to vote.” 

“In Milwaukee County, the League is proud to stand with new Americans, guiding them through their first steps as voters,” said Peg Schrader, president of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. “Being barred from naturalization ceremonies is not just a restriction on our work but also a direct affront to immigrants, their families, and our democracy. This rule change undermines trust, discourages civic engagement, and violates our First Amendment rights as an organization committed to empowering every citizen.” 

“At every naturalization ceremony the League has attended, we’ve witnessed the pride and excitement of new citizens who are eager to cast their first ballot,” said Cara Erickson and Jeri Cabot, co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Charleston. “Having our organization present to answer questions and help new citizens register to vote is an important service and core to our League’s mission. This ban not only abolishes the beautiful tradition of welcoming new Americans but also undermines the promise of our democracy.”   

“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.”    

The League of Women Voters has, over the course of decades, registered hundreds of thousands of new US citizens to vote after naturalization ceremonies nationwide. As a result of USCIS’s rule change, however, state and local Leagues have already been forced to cancel at least 166 planned voter registration events, where League members and volunteers expected to register approximately 10,000 new voters. 

Campaign Legal Center has litigated to protect the work of nonpartisan civic engagement groups in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, and Montana, and it is ready to defend the right of the League of Women Voters to assist new citizens in registering to vote.  

Follow the latest updates on this lawsuit via the League’s Legal Center.

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