Immigration Policy

Record Backlog of Citizenship Applications

Recent laws which cut welfare benefits to noncitizens are one of the reasons more than two million immigrants are waiting to become U.S. citizens -- the largest backlog of naturalization applications since the federal government began keeping such records at the turn of the century.

  • Before the backlog started increasing in 1996, the normal waiting time for citizenship was six months.

  • Now it is 18 months on average, officials say.

  • But in New York it could take five years at the current pace of about 4,600 cases decided per month.

  • Some people have waited so long to have their applications reviewed that their criminal background checks have expired after 15 months -- forcing them to have their fingerprints retaken.

Observers say the problem is being compounded by antiquated and inefficient procedures at the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Last year it asked Congress for $150 million to modernize the entire citizenship operation. Four months ago, Congress granted that request and approved an additional $61 million. INS officials don't see an end to the backlog until the end of 1999.

There are reports of crates of applications lining the hallways of the district immigration office in Los Angeles, where more than 438,000 applicants are registered -- more than any other city in the country. The backlog in New York City is over 255,000.

Just five years ago, most immigrants were shunning citizenship. That was before new federal and state laws restricted welfare benefits to citizens and threatened deportations. Close to two million applications are expected this year -- more than were filed in the years from 1911 to 1920, when there was an unprecedented wave of immigration from Europe.

Source: Mirta Ojito, "A Record Backlog to Get Citizenship Stymies 2 Million," New York Times, April 20, 1998.

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