Shifting Realities for Naturalized Citizens Amid Immigration Reform

Sat Nov 15 2025 09:20:58 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Naturalized citizens like Dauda Sesay express fear and uncertainty as U.S. immigration policies evolve under the Trump administration, impacting their sense of security and belonging.

Amid changing immigration policies in the U.S., naturalized citizens such as Dauda Sesay voice concern over their status. Once seen as a safeguard, citizenship now feels precarious with increased deportation efforts and the potential denial of rights. The atmosphere of fear regarding travel and public expression has emerged, prompting questions about the true meaning of citizenship in America.

NEW YORK — When Dauda Sesay arrived in the United States after fleeing civil war in Sierra Leone, he believed that citizenship would offer him a protective bond with his new homeland. Naturalization promised rights and security, grounding his commitment to democracy. However, recent shifts in immigration policy under the Trump administration have clouded that promise, leaving Sesay and other naturalized citizens feeling vulnerable and uncertain.

Sesay, who now advocates for refugee integration, recalls taking the oath of allegiance with the conviction that it solidified his belonging. When I raised my hand and took the oath, I did believe that moment the promise that I belonged, said the 44-year-old. Yet, as immigration enforcement intensifies, fears have surfaced about potential deportation, even for citizens like him.

Many are hesitant to travel, concerned about being questioned or detained when returning to the U.S. Reports of naturalized citizens facing scrutiny have heightened these anxieties. I no longer travel domestically without my passport, Sesay remarked, despite holding a REAL ID which should suffice for identification.

Recent announcements from the Justice Department about ramping up denaturalization efforts for those deemed a risk have further exacerbated these concerns. Citizens fear that the sense of security linked to citizenship has eroded, akin to quicksand.

In New Mexico, State Senator Cindy Nava, who gained citizenship after growing up undocumented, observed newfound fear among naturalized citizens. I had never seen those folks be afraid... now they are uncertain of what their status holds in terms of safety, she stated.

Historically, American citizenship has been inconsistent, initially restricted to 'free white persons' and later expanded with significant amendments. Yet, moments in history show that citizenship rights can be stripped away abruptly, as seen during the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII or the exclusion of Asian immigrants earlier in the 20th century.

At this moment, Sesay expresses a profound sense of betrayal. The United States of America — that’s what I took that oath for. Now, I’m seeing a shift inside my home country. That is not the America I believe in, he lamented. As the nation continues grappling with its identity, the safety net of citizenship remains in question for many.