A New Jersey woman has filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. immigration authorities, alleging they unlawfully delayed a decision on her citizenship application nearly a year after she completed all required steps, according to court documents.
Derya Kaya, a lawful permanent resident living in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, has lived in the United States for over five years and holds a 10-year green card which makes her eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship under federal law, according to her complaint.
Despite completing every required step in the naturalization process, Kaya has been left in limbo for months, with no decision from immigration officials and no explanation for the delay, the lawsuit claims.
“I have taken every required step in good faith and have complied with all requests and obligations associated with the naturalization process,” Kaya stated in her sworn affidavit.
Kaya filed her lawsuit in U.S. District Court on May 25, asking a judge to compel immigration authorities to adjudicate her application.
According to the complaint, Kaya submitted her citizenship application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in November 2023 and received confirmation of receipt shortly afterward.
She was later scheduled for a naturalization interview, which took place on March 12, 2024, at a Newark field office, where she was placed under oath and questioned about her application and background.
Her complaint said that Kaya passed both the English language and U.S. history and civics tests, which are required parts of the naturalization process.
However, at the end of the interview, the officer indicated on a form that a decision could not yet be made on her application.
On March 25, 2024, she received a request from the agency, asking for her federal and state tax return transcripts from the past three years, according to the complaint.
Kaya submitted additional required documents well before the deadline. However, as of the date of the court filing, she had received no further communication from immigration authorities.
Under federal law, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is required to make a decision within 120 days of the naturalization interview, which in Kaya’s case was by July 10, 2024.
The complaint alleges that the deadline passed more than ten months ago.
Kaya states in her affidavit that she followed every rule, responded to every request, and now seeks the opportunity to fully participate in American civic life.
The complaint names several federal officials as defendants, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Kash Patel, and immigration officials.
Requests for comment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations were not immediately returned.
Kaya’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.