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For Immediate Release
May 30, 2007 |
Contact: Gloria Chan: 202.226.9707
gloria.chan@mail.house.gov |
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CAPAC Troubled by USCIS Fee Increase
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Washington, DC – Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) responds to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) announcement of increased immigration fees. Citizenship fees will rise from $400 to $675, an increase of 69 percent. The fee for lawful permanent resident status will now be over $1,000.
CAPAC issued a letter to USCIS in December 2006, and submitted comments objecting to USCIS’s proposed fee increase in March of this year. Both the letter and comments to the rule expressed concern regarding the need to balance the need for funding of USCIS operations with affordability of services.
Rep. Honda (CA-15): "I am extremely dismayed by the drastic increase in immigration fees announced by USCIS," said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of CAPAC. "Fee increases on such a large scale would prevent many Asians, Pacific Islanders, and other immigrants from achieving their dreams of becoming U.S. citizens, reuniting with their families, and being able to contribute their knowledge and skills to our economy. We cannot price citizenship and legal immigration status out of the reach of hardworking families."
Rep. Abercrombie (HI-01): "The USCIS fee increase is a penalty levied on people who have done nothing wrong and can little afford it," said Rep. Abercrombie (HI-01), Chair of CAPAC’s Immigration Task Force. "In my reading of the Constitution and American history, I find no reference to bank balance as a prerequisite for U.S. citizenship." |
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