The Biden administration has been processing naturalization applications at an unprecedented speed, with millions of immigrants becoming U.S. citizens since President Biden took office. While the administration attributes this to operational improvements, some critics believe it’s a politically motivated strategy to increase voter turnout, especially with the upcoming elections.
According to a recent report by the New York Times, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is processing applications at a pace not seen in a decade, averaging 4.9 months for processing in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. This is significantly faster than the 11.5 months it took just three years ago.
The report notes that the expedited process could significantly impact the upcoming election, with thousands of potential new voters becoming citizens every week. “The surge in naturalization efficiency isn’t just about clearing backlogs; it’s potentially reshaping the electorate, merely months before a pivotal election,” said Xiao Wang, CEO of Boundless, a company assisting immigrants with the naturalization process.
Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, echoes concerns that the accelerated naturalization process is a political ploy. “They won’t admit that,” she told Fox News Digital. “They will describe it as naturalization is the ultimate goal and we want people to become Americans… but it’s always a political tactic to get more citizens with the assumption they will vote for you.”
Ries points to the Clinton administration’s 1996 initiative, dubbed Citizenship USA, which faced criticism for hastily naturalizing thousands of immigrants, including some with criminal backgrounds. The initiative was accused of being a ploy to boost the Democratic voter base ahead of the 1996 election.
While the White House maintains that the current naturalization speed is solely due to operational improvements, Ries argues that thorough vetting is crucial, especially since naturalization is a significant step with lasting consequences. “You can denaturalize somebody after the fact, but it’s rarely done, and it’s no easy thing,” she said.
Ries also expresses concern that USCIS has lowered the standards for the civics and English exams, making it easier for individuals to become citizens, even if they struggle to assimilate into American society.
In response to these concerns, a USCIS spokesperson stated that the increased processing pace is the result of “operational improvements over the last few years to reduce both the number of pending cases and overall processing times the agency inherited from the prior administration.”
As the upcoming election draws closer, the debate surrounding the accelerated naturalization process is likely to intensify. The administration’s claims of efficiency improvements will be weighed against concerns of political motivations and potential security risks. Whether the increased pace of naturalizations is a genuine effort to reduce backlogs or a strategic move to influence the electorate remains a point of contention.
