Queens, NY – In a borough known for its vibrant immigrant communities, a factory worker’s path to citizenship has been halted by what advocates are calling a troubling example of rigid bureaucracy within the U.S. immigration system. Miguel Hernandez, who lost his right index finger in an industrial accident eight years ago, was denied citizenship last week when his biometric data was flagged as “incomplete” during routine processing at the USCIS Queens Field Office—despite being assured earlier that his condition would not affect his application.
Hernandez, who has lived and worked legally in the United States for twelve years, was informed that his application could not proceed because the fingerprint verification system requires ten complete fingerprints. According to Hernandez, he explicitly notified USCIS staff about his missing finger during his biometrics appointment.
“When I went to get my fingerprints taken, I explained my situation to the clerk,” Hernandez said. “I showed them my hand and the medical documentation about my accident. They told me, ‘Don’t worry, this happens sometimes. The system has protocols for these situations.’ They assured me it wouldn’t be a problem.”
Three months later, Hernandez received the rejection notice citing regulation 8 CFR §103.2(b)(13)(ii), which states that applications with “incomplete biometric data” cannot be approved without special exemption.
“I provided medical records showing how I lost my finger at the factory,” said Hernandez, a father of three who has maintained steady employment and paid taxes throughout his residency in the Jackson Heights neighborhood. “But they said the computer system automatically flags any scan with fewer than ten prints as potentially fraudulent.”
Immigration attorney Jessica Blackwood, who has taken on Hernandez’s case, points to this discrepancy as particularly troubling. “The right hand didn’t know what the left was doing—quite literally in this case. USCIS staff gave Mr. Hernandez verbal assurances that directly contradicted their own procedural requirements. This isn’t just bureaucratic inefficiency; it’s actively misleading applicants.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office issued a statement acknowledging the situation: “While we cannot comment on specific cases, USCIS policy does provide pathways for applicants with physical limitations to request accommodations during the naturalization process. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”
When pressed about the contradictory information Hernandez received, a USCIS spokesperson said the agency would review training procedures for biometric collection staff.
According to Blackwood, such accommodation requests often result in significant delays. “Miguel filed for the exemption six months ago, after being explicitly told by USCIS staff that he wouldn’t need one. Meanwhile, his life remains in limbo while he waits for bureaucrats to acknowledge what any reasonable person can see—that he physically cannot provide a print that doesn’t exist.”
Immigration advocacy groups point to Hernandez’s case as emblematic of a system that prioritizes procedural compliance over common sense. “We’re seeing more cases where people with disabilities or physical differences are disproportionately impacted by automated screening processes,” said Ted Kimberlake of the Queens-based Immigrant Justice Coalition. “What makes this case particularly egregious is that Mr. Hernandez tried to follow the right procedure by disclosing his condition upfront, only to be misled by the very people who should have helped him navigate the system correctly.”
For Hernandez, who was just weeks away from taking his citizenship oath before the rejection, the setback has been disheartening. “I’ve done everything right—learned English, followed all the rules, contributed to my community. Now I’m told I can’t be American because of an accident that happened while I was working to build a life here.”
His employer, Westside Manufacturing in Long Island City, has written letters of support, confirming that Hernandez lost his finger in 2017 while operating machinery that produces electrical components for domestic use. “Miguel is one of our most dedicated employees,” said plant manager Robert Chen. “It’s absurd that his commitment to this country is being questioned because of an injury sustained while contributing to the American economy.”
As Hernandez awaits a decision on his exemption request, his case has drawn attention from several congressional representatives who are calling for review of biometric requirements for individuals with physical disabilities or injuries, as well as improved training for USCIS staff.
“The system should serve people, not the other way around,” Blackwood said. “If we can’t make reasonable accommodations for someone like Miguel, then something is fundamentally broken in our approach to immigration.”
Truth Bureau 