CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
March 20, 2008 – 1:22 p.m.
Key Senators Demand Action on Backlog of Citizenship Applications
Seeking to spur action on a growing backlog of citizenship applications, three senior Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are pressing the Bush administration to explain how and when the logjam will be cleared.
In a letter Wednesday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff , the senators demanded information on how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services intends to confront and correct the problem.
Sens. Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass., Charles E. Schumer , D.N.Y., and Patrick J. Leahy , D-Vt., requested answers to about a dozen detailed questions by the end of next week, in advance of Chertoff’s expected testimony before the Judiciary committee on April 2.
The letter also demands information about a “front log” of applications that were received by USCIS, but were not entered into the system or otherwise acknowledged for several months, thereby delaying the start date of the adjudication process.
“The agency’s responses will help us fully understand the scope of the backlog and front log problem and identify the areas where the agency needs the most assistance in alleviating these delays,” the senators wrote.
The letter comes just one week after an announcement by the head of USCIS, Emilio T. Gonzalez that he would be leaving his post effective April 18.
During Gonzalez’s tenure, USCIS decreased the waiting period on a post-Sept. 11, 2001, processing backlog for naturalization applications to about six months. USCIS announced in 2007 that it would increase naturalization fees from $330 to $595 in order to pay for lingering problems with efficiency.
But applications surged in 2007 as eligible residents raced to start their citizenship applications before the higher rates took effect in fiscal year 2008. The number of applications nearly doubled from fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year 2007, and as a result, the waiting time for citizenship has increased to 16-18 months by Chertoff’s estimate.
The backlog — which immigrant advocacy groups estimated at almost a million applications in late 2007 and more than a million now — could have a political impact. Some of those now waiting for their applications to be processed might not become citizens in time to register to vote in the Nov. 4 elections.
“In other words,” Kennedy, Schumer, and Leahy wrote in the letter, “for naturalization applications filed after the fee increase, USCIS is now charging almost twice as much for a service that takes twice as long.”
Comments
Sure. Let's worry more about rushing through applictions for citizenship than we do about making sure that folks who already vote are actually eligible, and that the roles aren't filled with illegal aliens or criminals. Sure let's do this instead of trying to maintain the integrity of an already shoddy system.
Halibut, If you had any idea baout how the immigration system works, you probably wouldnt be making moronic comments like the one you just made. IF a non-citzen (that means anyone who is not the citizen of the USA) registers to vote, or votes, it is a federal crime, pushiable by deportation, jail time and ban in returning to the US. Only once when you are a citizen can you take ur naturalization paperwork to register to vote.
Memers of congress enter legislation, agree on it and pass it. It is sent to the President to sign off and become law. Federal agencies are required to translate the law into enforceable regulation and then ENFORCE it. The application process in the course of obtaining lawful permanent residence or citizenship UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should be a production process. This is NOT a manufacturing plant building widgets! This is a serious request to become a permanent member of a society like no other in the entire world. I am aware of only way method in which these applications can be adjudicated in the mannere the applicants/petitioners wish - that is to hire each of them to adjudicate his/her own application/petition. In that case the LAW WILL BE IGNORED and they will all be approved timely, within 90 days and less, they will have what they seek, including those with questionable backgrounds, AND the press and the public will be all over it with maximum NEGATIVE reaction when the stuff hits the fan. It's about time we GET REAL and HONEST, and put the information out there as it should be. Stop trying to sugar coat the reality. When there is no backlog, there is no need to hire all the folks responsible for processing and adjudicating these applications and petition. Talk about reducing the size of government. What a concept - hire those trying to get here, let them adjudicate their own applications/petitions, then when they've been approved and received green cards and citizenship, fire them. Short term employment and minimal fees. WOW!!
It is our members of Congress and the media who have created these front logs and back logs. There was no thought put into the application price increases. All that had to be done was ladder the price increases; raise several forms prices every month for six months!! COMMON SENSE. Congress has always created back logs by not asking the people who actually do the work their opinion. One of the questions on the naturalization test is "for how long can a senator or congressman be re-elected". answer-no limit. I SAY THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT!
face it...if it wasn't an election year those 3 self serving senators would not give a damn about the backlog...if the backlog issue is going to be addressed it should be done properly...and not hastily...it's obvious more adjudications officers need to be hired...but don't rush their security checks...or else we end up with unscrupulous officers...currently upper management is trying to force the present workforce to work more "efficiently"...in other words skip steps that are part of a proper adjudication...such as conducting proper security checks and review of a file for possible fraud issues...this is done by increasing the number of interviews thereby severely limiting the time the officer has to properly do the job they took an oath to do with the utmost integrity. ...what these senators forget is that the first and foremost responsibility is national security...and not their possibly lost votes...quit caring about the people who aren't citizens and try caring about the safety of the people who are citizens...
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