Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Condemns Proposed Naturalization Fee Increases, Encourages Public Comment

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus stood in opposition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) proposed rule change that would increase the cost of naturalization applications at a press conference Wednesday.

“As an American citizen who proudly naturalized, I know how important and meaningful it is for a person to obtain citizenship. As a country, we need to be making this process more accessible, not more expensive,” said House Chair Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook. “The proposed fee increase will undoubtedly discriminate against lower-income lawful permanent residents and increase the amount of time it takes for a person to become a citizen. As Latino legislators, we are dedicated to making sure citizenship does not become limited to only those who can pay.”

USCIS issued a proposal to increase the cost of the naturalization application from $725 to $760, and increase the cost of other naturalization services. Historically, fee increases negatively impact the rate of naturalization, especially for low-income and working class immigrants. This prevents lawful permanent residents from achieving citizenship and the economic and social benefits citizenship brings. The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus criticized the rule change in the Federal Register, and suggested naturalized citizens, immigration advocates, and allies do the same. The deadline to submit comments is on March 13, 2023 and comments can be made at https://p2a.co/2RF94lk.

The Caucus also highlighted the Illinois Department of Human Services’ New Americans Initiative to provide citizenship services to eligible permanent residents, as well as previous actions Illinois has taken to help immigrants become U.S. citizens.

“This is simply unacceptable,” said Senate Chair Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago. “Many people are already experiencing financial hardships and should not be burdened with missing out on the life changing opportunity of becoming a naturalized citizen due to do increased fees and limited finances.”

“I am appalled that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would raise these fees and effectively bar low-income migrants from becoming citizens,” Joint Chair Edgar Gonzalez, D-Chicago, said. “Becoming a full U.S. citizen is a point of pride for countless people in my district and across this country, and many hope to one day partake in that pride, but this change ultimately gets in the way. I hope all who share my frustration about this sudden and harmful change express those thoughts and amplify the voices of migrants who will be adversely affected by this policy change.”