WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the District Court of Maryland temporarily blocked a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rule that prevented nonpartisan civic engagement groups from registering new US citizens to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. The Court’s preliminary injunction prevents the new rule from going into effect while the case is litigated.
The rule — which was issued abruptly in August 2025 and without factual basis — silenced the voices of Americans, but has been temporarily blocked following a lawsuit filed by Campaign Legal Center on behalf of the League of Women Voters (LWV) and a number of state and local Leagues. Now, civic engagement groups can continue the important work of educating and registering new Americans at administrative naturalization ceremonies — a longstanding tradition that encourages participation in the political process.
“When people become American citizens, they should be welcomed into full participation in civic life, not met with new barriers,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “For generations, the League has stood beside new citizens as they take the oath of citizenship and prepare to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Today’s ruling protects that fundamental democratic principle, and we will continue fighting to ensure every eligible voter can participate freely and fully in our democracy.”
“Any attempt to limit the freedom to vote is an attempt to silence American voters. This victory protects naturalized citizens’ access to the ballot box and the constitutional rights of civic organizations that help new citizens exercise their democratic freedoms,” said Anna Baldwin, director of voting rights litigation at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. “We’ll continue to fight in court to make this victory permanent and protect naturalized citizens and the groups that help welcome them into our democracy.”
The plaintiffs sued the administration for violating the First Amendment rights of the national League of Women Voters and state and local Leagues to engage in political speech and associational activities. The suit also addresses the administration’s failure to obey the Administrative Procedure Act that requires federal agencies to follow clearly defined and transparent procedures when adopting new policies.
"We applaud the District Court's decision affirming the LWVCA's right to return to USCIS administrative naturalization ceremonies, including here in Charleston, South Carolina. This ruling restores essential, nonpartisan services and ensures that new Americans can more easily engage in our democracy from day one." - League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area
"This victory is a win for every Coloradan who believes in the promise of American democracy. For decades, the League of Women Voters of Colorado has proudly welcomed new citizens at naturalization ceremonies — helping them take their first step as voters. The USCIS rule tried to shut that door, but today's ruling keeps it open. We look forward to standing beside Colorado's newest citizens once again and ensuring their voices are heard at the ballot box." - League of Women Voters of Colorado
“Every new citizen in Saratoga County deserves not just a warm welcome, but the immediate chance to take part in our democracy by registering to vote the moment they take the oath of citizenship — a meaningful service the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is honored to be able to provide once again.” - League of Women Voters of Saratoga County
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots, membership-based civic engagement group that has long exercised its constitutionally protected right to educate and assist new Americans in registering to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. Over the past few decades, the League has registered hundreds of thousands of new US citizens to vote after naturalization ceremonies nationwide. No organization has done more voter registration at naturalization ceremonies than the League of Women Voters. Indeed, in 2024, the League registered more than 15% of all new American citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies.
As a result of USCIS’s rule change, however, state and local Leagues were forced to cancel hundreds of planned voter registration events, where League members and volunteers expected to register thousands of new voters. Since USCIS’s unlawful rule has been in place, state and local Leagues have been prohibited from attending and assisting new citizens in registering to vote for more than eight months. But with this Court victory, the League can now restart its important work with new citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
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