Immigrants becoming citizens at breakneck speed as election approaches: report
3.3 million immigrants have become US citizens since Biden took office
By Michael Lee Fox News
Published August 14, 2024 3:49pm EDT
The federal government is processing U.S. citizenship applications at its fastest pace in decades, with thousands of immigrants becoming newly minted citizens every week, possibly helping sway the result of November’s election.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USIS) is taking an average of 4.9 months to process naturalization applications in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, a pace not seen since 2013 and 2014, according to a report from the New York Times.
The under five-month average processing time is a far cry from that pace set just three years ago, when it took roughly 11.5 months for authorities to process a naturalization application.
Overall, 3.3 million immigrants have become naturalized citizens since President Biden took office, in part thanks to the administration shortening the naturalization application to 14 pages instead of the previous 20. The administration also raised the fee to apply in April to $710, up from the previous $640, but made it easier for low-income applicants to qualify for a discount.
Green card holders, known as lawful permanent residents, become eligible for American citizenship after five years of holding legal status. Others can become eligible quicker, such as those married to an American citizen for at least three years.
The newly minted American citizens will have rights not afforded to permanent residents, the New York Times report notes,
including the right to vote in the upcoming election.more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/immigrants-becoming-citizens-breakneck-speed-election-approaches-report
