Last year, CAIR-Chicago’s Litigation Director, Phil Robertson, met Mr. Ahmad Al-Masri at a mosque during Ramadan. Mr. Al-Masri struggled for months to get his naturalization application reviewed and approved by USCIS before finding CAIR-Chicago. In response, CAIR-Chicago attorneys submitted requests to USCIS and Ombudsmen to get answers about the delays Mr. Al-Masri faced.

Finally, after several more months of waiting, Mr. Al-Masri was issued a Notice of Intent to Deny by USCIS in late 2021. In response, CAIR-Chicago immediately responded and successfully argued that Mr. Al-Masri’s application should not be denied. Almost six months later after hearing nothing from USCIS, Mr. Al-Masri received his Oath Ceremony appointment and naturalization approval.

On May 9, 2022, CAIR-Chicago’s Staff Attorney, Emma Melton, accompanied Mr. Al-Masri to his Oath Ceremony and witnessed his naturalization.

Congratulations to Mr. Al-Masri and his family!