Meng, Torres, García Lead Colleagues in Calling on DHS to Address Barriers to Naturalization

October 27, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), and 27 of their colleagues, sent a letterto Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Mendoza Jaddou encouraging them to take further action to address existing barriers to naturalization.
"Immigrants make our nation great and enrich and strengthen our society," said Rep. Meng. "But the process that many face in seeking to become naturalized citizens can be overwhelming and challenging, and it's time for that to change. We commend the work that the Department of Homeland Security has done to improve access to naturalization and urge Secretary Mayorkas and Director Jaddou to continue these improvements by making the process easier and fairer. There should be no barriers to naturalization; we must ensure that all immigrants have their shot at the American dream."
"Millions of lawful permanent residents who are eligible for citizenship have not completed the process because they face significant barriers, ranging from a lack of information and assistance to the often prohibitive cost of application," said Rep. Torres. "Expanding access to naturalization will make our country more prosperous by enhancing the economic, civic, and cultural contributions of lawful permanent residents."
"America is a nation where immigrants can realize their dreams, including citizenship," continued Rep. Torres. "It is our responsibility to do everything we can to help make those dreams a reality."
"For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is a meaningful moment that marks the beginning of our ability to fully participate in the civic life of the country we call home. But for many recent immigrants, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve that American dream," said Rep. García. "It's time to tear down the ‘second wall' of obstacles to citizenship that favor the privileged and wealthy. We must ensure that seeking naturalization is not a burdensome undertaking, and ultimately, that all people have the same opportunities I was granted in becoming a citizen."
The letter encourages the Department of Homeland Security to make the citizenship process fairer and more effective by:
  • Providing information about the naturalization process and resources to potentially eligible populations,
  • Offering Fee Waivers for naturalization and immigration applications,
  • Implementing remote interviews and oath ceremonies,
  • Appointing a Special Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security for Citizenship and Immigrant Integration,
  • Promoting customer service and public engagement,
  • Establishing a process to solicit and accept donations for the Citizenship Gift and Bequest Account,
  • Improving agency policy related to immigration data transparency and the naturalization process by providing more information and data, and
  • Providing an update to Congress on the current naturalization application backlog and processing times.
There are approximately nine million lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are eligible for naturalization but have not completed the process as a result of the current barriers in place. LPRs face additional hurdles including long wait times and extreme vetting, and often face the risk of losing their path to citizenship and being deported while waiting for naturalization.
In September, Meng and Torres introduced the Reduce Financial Barriers to Immigration and Citizenship Actto waive fees for naturalization for eligible applicants and codify waivers to ensure they are enshrined in law.