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U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and 11 other senators are urging the Trump administration to reconsider proposed increases to naturalization fees and the elimination of reduced-fee options and fee waivers.
In a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, the senators said the proposed changes could make citizenship unaffordable for thousands of eligible immigrants, particularly those from low-income communities.
"USCIS' actions have repeatedly increased the burden of and difficulty in obtaining U.S. citizenship," the senators wrote. "Naturalization is a critical pathway to immigrant integration, civic engagement and democratic participation, yet your agency's actions represent a significant departure from these values."
xUnder a proposed Department of Homeland Security rule, the fee for filing the application for naturalization on paper would increase from $760 to $1,330, a 75% increase. The online fee would rise from $710 to $1,280, an increase of about 80%.
The proposal also would increase the fee for requesting a hearing after the denial of a naturalization application. The paper filing fee for Form N-336 would rise from $830 to $1,475, while the online fee would increase from $780 to $1,425, or about 83%.
Reduced fees for naturalization applicants whose household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines would be eliminated. Fee waivers for both forms also would end. Current and former members of the armed forces who qualify for naturalization under military-service provisions would remain exempt.
USCIS said the increases are intended to recover the full cost of processing naturalization applications and appeals, including expanded screening and vetting. The agency said the existing fees do not generate enough revenue to cover projected costs.
The senators questioned whether the agency had adequately considered the effect of the higher costs on eligible applicants.
"While your agency asserts that the increased fees are necessary to recover the full cost of adjudicating naturalization applications and to support enhanced screening and vetting measures, it fails to address the increased fees' deterrent effect on eligible applicants, particularly those from low-income communities," they wrote.
The senators asked USCIS to explain the methodology used to calculate the proposed increases, their anticipated effect on lawful permanent residents seeking citizenship and what changes to the naturalization process made the higher fees necessary.
They also criticized other changes to the naturalization process, including revisions to the civics test and the elimination of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which helped organizations prepare lawful permanent residents for citizenship.
Hirono, a naturalized citizen and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was joined by Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Alex Padilla of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico.
The proposed rule has not taken effect. Public comments will be accepted through Aug. 24.
The senators' letter is available at tinyurl.com/mr2u6tpf.