’So frightened’: Reporter describes immigrants being removed from line at citizenship oath ceremony

MSNow: ’So frightened’: Reporter describes immigrants being removed from line at citizenship oath ceremony (Dec 10, 2025) 

Boston Globe reporter Claire Thornton describes immigrants being removed from line at a citizenship oath ceremony at Faneuil Hall.

Also see 

WTHR: Prospective U.S. citizens turned away from Indianapolis naturalization ceremony

abc10news: San Diego Afghan woman's citizenship oath canceled amid Trump immigration crackdown on 19 countries

Madre Sin Fronteras

Virgen de Tepeyac,


Patroness of the Americas,


Madre sin fronteras,


PRAY FOR US!

Who Was Thomas Paine?

PBS Learning: Who Was Thomas Paine?

Introduce to your class the story of Thomas Paine, one of the most influential voices of the American Revolution, in this American Icons video from PBS LearningMedia. Learn how Paine’s groundbreaking pamphlet “Common Sense” inspired colonists to fight for independence from England and reject tyranny under King George III. Through his bold words and revolutionary ideas, Paine helped ignite the movement that led to the Revolutionary War and the founding of a new nation built on liberty and self-governance.  More at PBS Learning Media

USCIS 128:77.   Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain. 

• High taxes 

• Taxation without representation 

• British soldiers stayed in Americans’ houses (boarding, quartering) 

• They did not have self-government 

• Boston Massacre 

• Boston Tea Party (Tea Act) 

• Stamp Act 

• Sugar Act

 • Townshend Acts

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 14

Review Night!

 

uscitizenpod: Mix and Match U S Citizenship Interview Level D Practice 5

• Interview D5
• A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf 

• Intro Quiz (20 questions) 
• Civics Questions (USCIS 100:01-57) for the Naturalization Test
• American History and Integrated Civics Questions (USCIS 100:58-100) for the Naturalization Test

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Share America: 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Learn more:

• LINCS: Civic Resources for Human Rights Day (Dec 10) and Bill of Rights Day (Dec 15)  links
• FDR Library: Everyone Has the Right: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Heather Cox Summary: Human Rights Day & a Warning for the Present — Video Summary Heather Cox Richardson (Dec. 10, 2025)
• TED-ed: What are the universal human rights? - Benedetta Berti
• TED-ed: The rights you might not realize you have - Shannon Odell
• uscitizenpod: Resources for Human Rights Day links
• uscitizenpod: A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf 
• uscitizenpod: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Word Search Puzzle pdf 
• uscitizenpod: Bill of Rights Day Conversations post

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?

December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception located in Washington, D.C., honors Mary, the mother of Jesus, as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States and celebrates the diversity of the American Catholicism. (take a virtual tour)

As a Roman Catholic, I am proud to share my religious and cultural heritage that informs my work as an ESL/Citizenship teacher.  I also want to honor my Catholic brothers and sisters working tirelessly for justice on behalf on the immigrant community.

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?

• You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

Nearly 200 new U.S. citizens sworn in during Massachusetts ceremony

CBS Boston: Nearly 200 new U.S. citizens sworn in during Massachusetts ceremony

Bill of Rights Day Conversations

Source: GPO BookTalk

Get ready for Bill of Rights Day on Dec 15!  Use these dialogues to extend EL Civics instruction, learn about the Bill of Rights (and UDHR), and introduce KYR resources.

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for Family Literacy

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 1

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 2

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 3

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 4

·       Bill of Rights Conversation Practice for ESL 5

 

EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA! 

Dec 15 Bill of Rights Day resources:

• LINCS: Civic Resources for Bill of Rights Day 2024 links
• GPO BookTalk: Bill of Rights post and cartoon
• uscitizenpod: A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 (2024) Part 9 plus Civics Questions 2024 video | pdf  | mp3
• Bill of Rights pptx via Google Slides
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 01  pdf
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 02  pdf
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 03  pdf
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 04  pdf
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 05  pdf
• Bill of Rights Citizenship Quiz  pdf

Dec 10: Human Rights Day

·       LINCS: Civic Resources for Human Rights Day 2024 links

·       A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf

·       The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Word Search Puzzle pdf

KYR Resources:

·       Literacy-level KYR card png

·       ILRC Red Cards (multiple languages) page  

Prepare for an Immigration Consultation Appointment (includes KYR resources from adult schools) page