US Citizenship Podcast

NPR: San Francisco immigration court shuts down, striking at heart of historic advocacy by Ximena Bustillo

CEFR A2-B1 Summary:

The main immigration court in San Francisco has closed. Many immigration judges were fired, retired, or resigned. Because of this, most immigration cases from San Francisco are being moved to another immigration court in Concord, California. The change affects more than 100,000 immigration cases.

The U.S. Department of Justice says the closure will save money and help manage court resources. However, immigration lawyers and advocates are worried that people seeking asylum may face longer travel times, more delays, and greater difficulty attending their hearings.

For many years, the San Francisco immigration court was known for approving asylum cases at a higher rate than many other courts in the United States. Some advocates believe moving cases away from San Francisco could make it harder for asylum seekers to receive legal support and fair access to the court system.

The closure has created uncertainty for immigrants, attorneys, and families. Many people are waiting for new hearing notices and information about where their cases will be heard. Legal experts warn that longer delays could make it more difficult for people to present evidence and testimony in their cases.

See the full details at:

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/10/g-s1-126345/san-franciso-court-immigration-closure-asylum-layoffs

San Francisco immigration court shuts down, striking at heart of historic advocacy The main San Francisco court was one of the busiest in the country, hearing thousands of cases a year. It was also one of the courts most likely to grant an immigrants' asylum application.

The 128 Civics Questions Series by uscitizenpod

Links to each civics question's explanation and slide. Videos will be posted in July.

https://www.uscitizenpod.com/2026/05/the-128-civics-questions-series-by.html

The 128 Civics Questions Series by uscitizenpod created with MS Image Designer, 202605-25 12:45 am by Jennifer GagliardiHere are explanations for each one of the 128 Civics Questions on uscitizenpod.com.  I will work on converting these slides and texts into videos over the summer.  Send comments to [email protected].

Great resource from The Immigrant Learning Center: Study Guide for Form N-400, Part 9https://www.ilctr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Study-Guide-for-Form-N-400.pdf

www.ilctr.org

NEW 128 CIVICS QUESTIONS RESOURCES:
Today, I posted my last explanation for each one of the 128 Civics Questions on https://www.uscitizenpod.com/. I will work on converting these slides and texts into videos over the summer.

Also starting today, Heather Cox Richardson and friends launched the 250 to 250, a series of one-minute stories of the many people, places, and events that have built our country and remind us of the power of each person to make history. You can find these videos on Youtube, Instagram, and all social media accounts. Because some of the videos use advanced vocabulary and grammar, I will repost CEFR A2-B1 summaries with appropriate 128 Civics questions on uscitizenpod.com

June 5: Bill Bliss and Pearson invite you to a webinar on the new 128-question U.S. civics test and other naturalization interview challenges, and including the new 2026 versions of the Voices of Freedom and Basic Civics courses. At the link, scroll down to register for the June 5 session (1pm ET, 12pm CT, 10am PT). Bring questions and concerns to share during the Q&A. If you can’t attend live, you can register for access to the recorded session.

https://lnkd.in/er7mfBSd
https://events.zoom.us/ev/AtaRuS0w772s2OiXEQ-G-MTFlPCrd-xwyAdp7Fz3HU5I8LSQfqBK~ApTXd38Awr3l6uia9jX_KuwFo_bMO018OM2Dl_k7HEO6aEGdqArF8gYXzA

Citizenship and AI:

If you are interested in providing feedback for ESLvideo: Chattybot Citizenship - 128 Flashcard Practice https://eslvideo.com/cb-us-citizenship.php , please contact Ryan Detwiler [email protected].

Dr. Linh Phung is also looking for feedback on her AI Citizenship Chatbot at https://eduling.chottu.link/us-civics-exam-ltp . There's another course to help learners to practice other interview questions and the reading and writing portions of the exam. It's called U.S. Citizenship: Interview, Reading, and Writing. You can try it here: https://eduling.chottu.link/us-civics-interviewi-reading-writing-ltp . Please contact her at [email protected]

Civics and Citizenship Education discussion groups

Join the TESOL.org ESL Civics and Naturalization Education PLN at https://my.tesol.org/topics/44000/home

And the Catesol: CA Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages CIV (The Civics and Citizenship Education Interest Group) at https://mms.catesol.org/members/forum/topic_list.php?bid=4248573

OTAN U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

My penultimate post of 128 Citizenship Questions series coincides with . During the summer, I will be converting the text and slides into videos. Please send feedback to [email protected].



What is Memorial Day?

USCIS 128:127. What is Memorial Day? Many Americans visit cemeteries, monuments, and memorials to honor fallen service members.  People often place flowers and American flags on graves at military cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery.

We are American Indians, Native Alaskans, Europeans, Latinos, Africans, Arabs, Asians, Pacific Islanders-- yet all of us hear America speaking in our own languages about FREEDOM!

An American Pentecost

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new policy memo about adjustment of status and Green Card applications. The memo says that people who are in the United States temporarily, such as students, tourists, or temporary workers, should usually apply for a Green Card from their home country through a U.S. consulate or embassy. This process is called consular processing.

According to USCIS, adjustment of status inside the United States should be used only in unusual or extraordinary situations. Immigration officers will review each case carefully and look at all important facts before making a decision.

USCIS officials said the policy follows the original purpose of immigration law. They explained that temporary visas are meant for short visits and specific purposes, not as the first step toward permanent residence. The agency also believes that handling more Green Card applications overseas will reduce immigration violations and help USCIS focus on other important cases, such as applications for crime victims, trafficking victims, and naturalization applicants.

See the full announcement at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-will-grant-adjustment-of-status-only-in-extraordinary

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Will Grant ‘Adjustment of Status’ Only in Extraordinary Circumstances | USCIS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the....

Super excited about contributing to the *NEW* "America 250 for Dummies". Also, I am counting down to May 5 publication of "U.S. Citizenship for Dummies, 3rd edition".

America 250 All-In-One For Dummies America 250 All-In-One For Dummies

This Good Friday collection from US Citizenship Podcast highlights the intersection of faith, immigration, and human dignity.

Drawing on the Christian tradition of the Stations of the Cross, the post invites readers to see the experiences of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through a spiritual lens—recognizing their journeys as marked by suffering, resilience, and hope. It emphasizes that many immigrants endure dangerous travel, family separation, and complex legal challenges in pursuit of safety and lawful status.

Faith-based organizations are presented as key actors in promoting compassion, reflection, and advocacy. Through prayer, education, and community engagement, they encourage individuals to stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees, especially during meaningful seasons such as Lent.

The central message is clear: immigration is not only a legal or policy issue—it is also a moral and humanitarian concern that calls for empathy, dignity, and collective responsibility.

GOOD FRIDAY Faith-Based Immigration and Refugee Resources

Hello from TESOL 2026! I will premiering the *NEW* TESOL Zip Guide, "GETTING STARTED WITH TEACHING MULTILINGUAL ADULT LEARNERS OF ENGLISH" by Shawn Chakrabarti and myself on Wed. 12:00-1:15 pm, SPCC Ballroom C. Drop by my session "Building Better Adult Education Programs: Pratical Strategies" and you just may win this new guide!

Catesol: CA Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages