Senator Sandoval says NO to increasing U.S. Naturalization fees

Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-12) speaks against increasing U.S. citizenship federal processing fees raised two years ago. Senator Sandoval is pictured during a press conference asking the federal legislative delegation to oppose such fees increments along with ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) activists and concerned community members. "These fees would place another enormous economic burden on all immigrants and working families struggling to survive in the midst of the crisis that affects the nation," said Senator Sandoval. 



Chicago, Illinois - "It will be an unfair and burdensome proposal if becomes a reality. Imposing new fees to immigrants who simply want to become a U.S. citizen is plainly unacceptable," said during a press conference Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-12). Once again immigrant advocates have called on U.S. officials and the Illinois federal delegation in particular, not to raise processing fees in the face of a looming budget shortfall, pointing to a significant drop in the number of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship.

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) is considering higher processing fees for citizenship applications and other services to close a projected $118 million budget gap next year.

The federal agency, which relies on fee revenues, is required by law to reconsider its fee structure every two years. A 69 percent fee hike in 2007 raised the price of citizenship applications to $675.

Senator Sandoval and immigrant advocates blamed the 2007 fee hikes for the agency's current financial problems, predicting that new increases would deter many of the state's estimated 500,000 legal permanent residents from seeking citizenship. "I call on U. S. Senator Dick Durbin, U. S. Senator Roland Burris and Congressman Luis Gutierrez to work together and find other financial venues to help USCIS. These fees, if approved, would place another enormous economic burden on all immigrants and working families struggling to survive in the midst of the crisis that affects the nation," said Senator Sandoval.

After the 2007 increases went into effect, citizenship applications dropped 58 percent in Chicago, meaning that much less revenue for the agency, according to the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Under its New American Initiative, ICIRR has promised to mobilize its members to assure that more immigrants obtain their citizenship without delay.