US immigration faces rising citizenship rejections and fraud warnings

Immigrants in the United States are facing increased challenges regarding citizenship applications and documentation integrity. Data from the Niskanen Center indicates a significant rise in processing delays and rejection rates. Specifically, the percentage of naturalization applicants waiting more than six months for a response increased by 300% in 2026. Additionally, the rejection rate for citizenship applications doubled, rising from 10% in mid-2025 to 20% in 2026.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has processed fewer cases in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Legal experts attribute these delays to a massive backlog of pending cases and more intensive case reviews.

Separately, Representative María Elvira Salazar has issued warnings regarding the use of fraudulent parole documents. Salazar reported instances where individuals, particularly from Cuba, allegedly used modified or fabricated documents provided by notaries to claim parole status. She cautioned that presenting falsified documents to federal agencies can lead to severe consequences, potentially permanently barring individuals from obtaining legal status.