Subject: RELEASE: Senator Clinton Calls for Quicker Action on Citizenship Applications
From: "Clinton, Press Office (Clinton)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:08:41 -0500

For Immediate Release

November 28, 2007

Contact:

Clinton Press Office 202-224-2243 or 

[email-masked]

 

SENATOR CLINTON CALLS FOR QUICKER ACTION ON CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS

 

Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the
Secretary of Homeland Security to address significant delays in the
processing of citizenship applications by the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS). In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff, Senator Clinton urged quick action to clear up the
growing backlog of applications and criticized the excessive fee
increases being imposed on applicants. She also asked for a timeline
indicating when these problems will be resolved.

"These are applicants who have played by the rules and waited patiently
for their chance to share in the American Dream. They deserve prompt and
fair action on their applications," Senator Clinton said.

In the past, citizenship applications have taken typically about seven
months to process. Immigration officials are now taking upwards of five
months to simply acknowledge receipt of an application and can take 16
to 18 months on average to process applications filed after June 1,
2007.

A copy of Senator Clinton's letter follows:

 

November 28, 2007

 

The Honorable Michael Chertoff

Secretary

United States Department of Homeland Security

Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have been following with deep concern the news about the significant
delays in the processing of citizenship applications by the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS").  As has been reported, a
citizenship application has taken typically about seven months to
process.  However, foreseeable and preventable processing delays have
meant that immigration officials are now taking upwards of five months
to simply acknowledge receipt of an application and can take 16 to 18
months on average to process applications filed after June 1, 2007.
These delays are unacceptable.  When considered in concert with the
recent and significant escalation of citizenship application fees, this
failure demonstrates a complete breakdown at USCIS.  I urge you to
devote all the necessary resources at your disposal to the prompt and
efficient processing of these applications and I ask you to again
reconsider the burdensome fee increases being imposed on applicants. 

      The majority of these applicants have navigated the citizenship
application process for years, with many having waited a lifetime to
become citizens of this, their adopted country.  They have played by the
rules in their pursuit of the American Dream.  Their commitment to
becoming U.S. citizens reaffirms the strength of our democracy and
reinforces our heritage as a nation of immigrants.  We should be
promoting citizenship and removing needless obstacles that prevent those
who are qualified and eager to become American citizens from reaching
their goal.

These prospective citizens should not be prejudiced because the
Department of Homeland Security failed to plan appropriately.  Their
applications must be processed without either undue delay or the
imposition of excessive or prohibitive fees.  For that reason, I eagerly
await word of what steps DHS and USCIS intend to take to fix this
situation and I ask that you provide me with a timeline indicating when
these problems will be resolved.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

 

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