The National Immigrant Justice Center commends Senator Barack Obama and Representative Luis Gutierrez for their leadership in introducing the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007. This bill takes important steps to make citizenship and assimilation into American society possible for a large number of lawful permanent residents. The bill is cosponsored by Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky.

The Citizenship Promotion Act would delay the fee increase recently proposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in January. The government's proposed fee increase would make citizenship cost-prohibitive for thousands of longtime lawful permanent residents who have worked and raised families in the United States and who want to assume the rights, protections and responsibilities afforded citizens under the U.S. Constitution. The bill would also take steps to increase efficiency in background checks, a process that has unduly delayed the processing of thousands of eligible applicants for citizenship.

"Thousands of immigrant families have worked hard to save money and prepare for the naturalization process," said Mary Meg McCarthy, executive director of the National Immigrant Justice Center. "The Citizenship Promotion Act will help stave off fee increases that would prevent them from achieving their dreams of becoming U.S. citizens."

The Citizenship Promotion Act also creates a federal program similar to Illinois' New Americans Initiative. The federal initiative would help lawful permanent residents prepare for the naturalization process by offering English and civics courses and legal assistance. Presently, the high demand for English and civics lessons overwhelms community organizations. The federal New Americans Initiative would assist motivated, lawful immigrants to gain the skills necessary to integrate into American culture.

Immigrants have long contributed to Chicago's culture and economy, and in turn Chicagoans have supported opportunities for hard-working lawful residents to assimilate into society and earn citizenship. The National Immigrant Justice Center supports the passage of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007, a bill that serves these worthy aspirations.