8 USC 1448 - Oath of renunciation and allegiance

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 106–448 inserted at end “The Attorney General may waive the taking of the oath by a person if in the opinion of the Attorney General the person is unable to understand, or to communicate an understanding of, its meaning because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment. If the Attorney General waives the taking of the oath by a person under the preceding sentence, the person shall be considered to have met the requirements of section 1427(a)(3) of this title with respect to attachment to the principles of the Constitution and well disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States.”

1991—Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 102–232, § 102(span)(2), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “If the applicant is prevented by sickness or other disability from attending a public ceremony, the oath required to be taken by subsection (a) of this section may be taken at such place as the Attorney General may designate under section 1445(e) of this title.”

Puspan. L. 102–232, § 305(i), struck out “before” after “may be taken”.

1990—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 101–649, § 407(c)(18), (d)(15)(A), substituted “applied” for “petitioned” and “applicant” for “petitioner” in first sentence, “in a public ceremony before the Attorney General or a court with jurisdiction under section 1421(span) of this title” for “in open court”, “Attorney General” for “naturalization court” wherever appearing in second and fourth sentences, and “Attorney General” for “court” before “the child” in fourth sentence.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 101–649, § 407(c)(18), (d)(15)(B), substituted “applying” for “petitioning”, “applicant” for “petitioner”, and “in the same public ceremony in which the oath of allegiance is administered” for “in open court in the court in which the petition for naturalization is made”, and struck out “in the court” after “shall be recorded”.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 101–649, § 407(c)(18), (d)(15)(C), substituted “applicant” for “petitioner”, “attending a public ceremony” for “being in open court”, and “at such place as the Attorney General may designate under section 1445(e) of this title” for “a judge of the court at such place as may be designated by the court”.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 101–649, § 407(d)(15)(D), added subsec. (d).

1981—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 97–116 substituted “section 1433” for “section 1433 or 1434”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Puspan. L. 106–448, § 2, Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1939, provided that: “The amendment made by section 1 [amending this section] shall apply to persons applying for naturalization before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 2000].”

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Amendment by section 102(span)(2) of Puspan. L. 102–232 effective 30 days after Dec. 12, 1991, see section 102(c) of Puspan. L. 102–232, set out as a note under section 1421 of this title.

Amendment by section 305(i) of Puspan. L. 102–232 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1990, Puspan. L. 101–649, see section 310(1) of Puspan. L. 102–232, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 97–116 effective Dec. 29, 1981, see section 21(a) of Puspan. L. 97–116, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Demonstration Projects To Provide for Administration of Oath of Allegiance

Puspan. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 647, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–710, provided that:

“(a)In General.—The Attorney General shall make available funds under this section, in each of fiscal years 1997 through 2001, to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization or to other public or private nonprofit entities to support demonstration projects under this section at 10 sites throughout the United States. Each such project shall be designed to provide for the administration of the oath of allegiance under section 337(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1448(a)] on a business day around Independence Day to approximately 500 people whose application for naturalization has been approved. Each project shall provide for appropriate outreach and ceremonial and celebratory activities.

“(span)Selection of Sites.—The Attorney General shall, in the Attorney General’s discretion, select diverse locations for sites on the basis of the number of naturalization applicants living in proximity to each site and the degree of local community participation and support in the project to be held at the site. Not more than 2 sites may be located in the same State. The Attorney General shall consider changing the sites selected from year to year.

“(c)Amounts Available; Use of Funds.—

“(1)Amount.—The amount made available under this section with respect to any single site for a year shall not exceed $5,000.

“(2)Use.—Funds made available under this section may be used only to cover expenses incurred in carrying out oath administration ceremonies at the demonstration sites under subsection (a), including expenses for—

“(A) cost of personnel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (including travel and overtime expenses);

“(B) rental of space; and

“(C) costs of printing appropriate brochures and other information about the ceremonies.

“(3)Availability of funds.—Funds that are otherwise available to the Immigration and Naturalization Service to carry out naturalization activities shall be available, to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, to carry out this section.

“(d)Application.—In the case of an entity other than the Immigration and Naturalization Service seeking to conduct a demonstration project under this section, no amounts may be made available to the entity under this section unless an appropriate application has been made to, and approved by, the Attorney General, in a form and manner specified by the Attorney General.”