AILA Lauds the Introduction of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2007
Contact: George Tzamaras
202-216-2410
gtzamaras@aila.org

AILA Lauds the Introduction of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007 Washington, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) lauds the introduction of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007 on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. "This bill is significant because it begins the process of knocking down several of the barriers that keep so many legal immigrants from becoming citizens," said Carlina Tapia-Ruano, President of AILA.

The Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007, introduced by Senators Obama (D-IL), Menendez (D-NJ), Salazar (D-CO), and Bingaman (D-NM), and Representatives Gutierrez (D-IL), Honda (D-CA), Abercrombie (D- HI), Grijalva(D-AZ), Schakowsky (D-IL), Solis (D-CA), and Pastor (D-AZ), would authorize U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to request and receive appropriations that would make up the difference between fees charged to applicants and the full resources needed to fund operations and infrastructure.

If enacted, this bill would keep USCIS from raising its already-substantial fees until Congress develops an appropriate framework that would prevent the agency from administering outrageous fee increases - which it has proposed to do. "We appreciate this recognition of the urgency to put up the government's fair share by appropriating funds for this agency to properly do its job," Tapia-Ruano said. "Excessively raising the cost of immigration applications is just not a viable solution to this agency's problems."

AILA supports the provisions of the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007 that would require fair naturalization fees, fair administration of citizenship testing, voluntary electronic application filing, and timely background checks. "The Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007 is a bill that respects the inherent human dignity of all people--immigrants and the families of immigrants especially--and that is why we are so supportive" Tapia-Ruano concluded. "AILA appreciates this willingness to make a good-faith effort to address the most critical barriers that keep so many people from realizing the American Dream."

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Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides it's Members with continuing legal education, information, professional services and expertise through its 35 chapters and over 75 national committees. AILA also advocates before Congress and the Administration, as well as provides liaison with government agencies in support of pro-immigration initiatives. AILA is an Affiliated Organization of the American Bar Association.

For information, please call George Tzamaras at 202-216-2410, or Brooke Hewson at 202-216-2435

Cite as AILA Doc. No. 07030860.