Posted on 11/23/2007 8:00:30 AM PST by AuntB
A huge citizenship application backlog may deny hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. from exercising their franchise in next year's U.S. presidential election, media reports indicated.
The backlog in applications, which the officials attribute to a surge before a July administration fee hike, could take at least 18 months to resolve, media reports say. That means many applicants would not be able to vote in the election that falls in 2008 November.
Becoming a U.S. citizen usually takes about seven months, but the current paperwork backlog could take between 15 and 18 months to work through, according to the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The agency is going to process these cases giving high priority, without focusing on any of the election cycle, the Washington Post reported, quoting Michael Aytes, associate director of the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency.
According to the figures provided by the agency, a total of 7.7million applications for U.S. citizenship were filed for the fiscal year ending 2007 September 30, an excess of 1.4 million compared to the previous fiscal year.
The paperwork burgeoned in the months before fees for citizenship applications almost doubled to $595 and nearly tripled for legal residency applications to $930.
Meanwhile, Hispanic leaders have expressed concern over the delays at the U.S. immigration department, which says they are helpless in clearing an unexpected paperwork accumulation.
"I would hope there's not a political motivation because citizenship is too valuable for partisan mischief," the AP quoted Arturo Vargas of the National Association for Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, as saying.
A majority of U.S. immigrants in 2006 were Hispanics. Strong Republican opposition to immigration reform bills this year infuriated a large section of the Hispanics, who tend to vote for Democrats.
How are we going to take 7.7 million new every year, plus our own births? Plus the illegals who are not on the citizenship route. This country is going to strangle to death having to take care of all these people. 60-75% taxes are coming when the dims get total control.
“..it takes seven months to become a citizen....”
Where is this? It took my sister-in-law almost seven years to get her Citizenship.
It took my wife 4 years.
Immigrants have no voting franchise. Citizenship applicants have no voting franchise. The voting franchise wasn't that important to them until they realized the application fees would increase this year, so boo-hoo for them.
"media reports indicated."
That alone is enough for me to dismiss the issue.
"...officials attribute (the backlog) to a surge before a July administration fee hike, could take at least 18 months to resolve...many applicants would not be able to vote in the election that falls in 2008 November.
Fair enough, you saved a dime.
"The paperwork burgeoned in the months before fees for citizenship applications almost doubled to $595..."
(Excuse me - $500.00+/-)
Meanwhile, Hispanic leaders have expressed concern over the delays at the U.S. immigration department...
"I would hope there's not a political motivation because citizenship is too valuable for partisan mischief," the AP quoted Arturo Vargas of the National Association for Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, as saying.
Pot - Kettle, black...
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court considers, in May, whether to disarm or not disarm the Citizens of the United States of the Citizens right to own handguns.
Looks like the plan, is well underway.....mho
When the Second goes, the First will be next.
So what else is there about modern life you don't understand? According to voting rights activists, every human on this planet has the right to vote in American elections as long as they vote Democrat.
See you in court, racist.
Which of course is exactly why we should not rush the process just so they can vote. If they are becoming citizens, they will have plenty of opportunities to vote thru the years. Their *franchise* is not in danger, since they don't have one until they become citizens.
susie
bttt
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It must be the DUmbos who are worried about every vote they can get.
Yeah, If you're voting DUmbo, piece o'cake! The iillegals are voting in droves. In '06 over a million more than Philly's total population voted, fair and square!
Don't let little legalities like citizenship stop you. Vote early and often, even from the grave, to destroy the country.
One day, the sleeping giant will wake up and curtains......................
A friend of mind (solid conservative) married a wife from Spain. It took her four years as well. The citizenship wasn't finalized until after the 2004 election. She was very well informed and looking forward to participating.
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I think these race-baiting "advocates" are trying to push their applicants ahead of those who've been waiting much longer.
“Maybe I’m paranoid, but I think these race-baiting “advocates” are trying to push their applicants ahead of those who’ve been waiting much longer”
You are neither. My wife was from Hunan (China)
Bush doesn’t like anyone who isn’t Hispanic.
There parasites want more more more from their host organism. These race hustlers agitated for Amnesty last year which would have really swamped the USA immigration bureaucracy. Not that they care. All they want is more of their own kind in America by hook or by crook because that means more "Hispanics" for them to claim as a base and to claim politically. And to lord over after a fashion
Well, this certainly underscores why the scumbags want to open the floodgates to the illegal hordes, but why in God's name would any Republican think it's a good idea?
The immigrants and Hispanics who are favorably disposed towards Republicans are not the open borders types
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