Green Card
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A sudden suspension of federal funding for immigrant integration programs has left non-profit organizations nationwide, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles (CHIRLA), facing significant operational challenges.
The halt, communicated in a February 4 email from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), cites a January 28 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum, but provides no specific justification or timeline for resolution. The USCIS cites "concerns" regarding the program's efficiency as the basis for the freeze. However, it has offered no specific reasoning, leaving grant recipients uncertain about the future of their programs.
CHIRLA, slated to receive $450,000 under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, now faces the task of securing alternative funding to maintain its services to lawful permanent residents. These services include English language instruction, civics education, and assistance with citizenship applications. Karla Aguayo, CHIRLA's director of legal services, affirms the organization's commitment to its students, stating, "We cannot simply abandon those relying on us."
The impact of the funding freeze extends to over one hundred organizations across the country. These groups are instrumental in assisting green card holders through the naturalization process. The disruption threatens to undermine recent progress in streamlining citizenship applications and reducing backlogs. On Friday, Thirty-five members of Congress, led by California Representative Jimmy Gomez, addressed a formal letter to USCIS Acting Director Kika Scott and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
The letter questions the rationale for halting the grants and emphasizes the program's proven efficiency in assisting applicants and alleviating bureaucratic burdens. The lawmakers warn that continued delays could result in a significant backlog of citizenship applications, potentially doubling processing times. Despite repeated inquiries, USCIS has offered no further comment beyond the initial memorandum, and DHS has yet to respond to concerns voiced by lawmakers and advocacy groups.
The Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program is designed to support lawful permanent residents in their journey to citizenship, but USCIS has expressed concerns about the program's efficacy. Aguayo has urged eligible individuals to continue pursuing their applications, even amid these challenges.