The federal government is approving U.S. citizenship applications at the fastest pace in a decade, clearing a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a strict approval system that reached its climax under former President Donald Trump, the government said in a report on Tuesday.
Naturalization ceremonies are often held in large numbers before elections, The New York Times Report Let me clarify this before I elaborate on the rising approval numbers for citizenship, which also confers full voting rights.
Xiao Wang, an immigration analyst and CEO of Boundless, a company that reportedly uses government data to analyze immigration trends and provides services to migrants looking for expert help navigating their applications, told the outlet that the rush to immigrate has consequences.
A surge in naturalization efficiency won’t just clear a backlog: It could also change the makeup of the electorate just months before a crucial election.
Every citizenship application could be a vote that decides a Senate seat or even a presidential election.
of The New York Times The report further states that application processing time is less than five months. It’s on par with 2013 and 2014.About 3.3 million immigrants have gained citizenship during President Joe Biden’s term in office, with less than two months left until the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
This change in pace can also be traced back to the last time the White House occupant changed hands.
After taking office in 2021, Biden issued executive orders aimed at reversing former President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies and “restoring confidence” in the legal immigration system. The New York Times Report summary.
Related — Exclusive: President Trump promises to issue executive orders on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship and “birth tourism” for illegal immigrants
Trump campaign
The order calls for, among other measures, steps to “significantly reduce current naturalization processing times.”
The Biden administration also shortened the naturalization application from 20 pages to 14. In April, it raised the application fee from $640 to $710, but made it easier for low-income people to get a discount.
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