Analyzing the Latest Immigration Fee Increases

BY CATHY KENDERSKI

The USCIS has proposed a number of fee increases for documents required for obtaining citizenship. Becoming a citizen costs $685 today, but that price will almost double on October 2, 2020 to $1200. This fee increase is an attack on immigrants and vulnerable populations. The rule is cruel, inhumane, nationalistic, fascist, racist, and xenophobic; it is intended to limit voting rights to the wealthy and will undoubtedly deter green card holders from seeking citizenship.

​Citizenship brings with it the ability to vote. Preventing the poor from obtaining citizenship limits voting rights to the wealthy. In other words, poor individuals are being barred from making decisions on legislation that directly impacts them. Our legislative process already favors the wealthy: policies supported by economic elites became law between 60 to 70 percent of the time. The proposed policies exacerbate the oligarchical nature of our government. Citizenship grants individuals the chance to have a direct, immediate impact on their community. Citizenship voting rights are not limited to federal elections; non-citizen immigrants are not able to vote in any elections, whether they are on the state, local, or federal level. Thus, denying people access to citizenship strips them of their ability to have a say on local legislation that affects them and their families. 

Citizenship brings with it economic stability. Even for those who reside in the US as green card holders, naturalization improves their socioeconomic status by granting them access to certain government jobs—among others. As a result, naturalized citizens on average do better economically than non-citizens. As a group, they earn between 50 and 70 percent more than non-citizens, have lower unemployment rates, and are less likely to fall below the poverty line. Even if green card holders were to obtain citizenship by paying the fee, the fee increases will create financial hardships for low-income immigrants and the increased cost of renewing residency cards would make it more difficult for immigrants to obtain employment or provide proof of their immigration status. Low income immigrants will be forced to choose between providing for basic needs and pursuing immigration benefits. ​