The Backlog of Citizenship Applications in Trump's Administration will Prevent some from Voting in the November Election.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has Not Released the Total Number of Backlogged Cases but has Reported hundreds of Thousands of Citizenship Applications are Pending.
The latest available Data from March 31st found more than 700,000 Citizenship Applications were Pending. The Agency has reportedly conducted 156,849 Naturalizations since Mid-March but more Applications still would have been Filed in that Period.
USCIS Spokesperson, Dan Hetlage, said in a Statement that the Agency is expected to Naturalize 600,000 New Citizens this fiscal year, which ends after September. In 2019, 834,000 New Citizens were Naturalized, the Highest Amount in 11 years.
The Lower Estimate for 2020 is attributed to the Coronavirus Pandemic, which Temporarily Shut Down USCIS Offices. The Agency has also Acknowledged that Underfunding and New Policy Changes from the Trump Administration have Contributed to the Backlog.
After Trump's Election, the Number of Applications for Citizenship Increased, leaving some Applicants to wait Two or more Years for Approval. USCIS Records indicate the Average Time for Processing an Application in Fiscal year 2020 was almost Nine Months.
The Agency aims to Complete the Process in Five Months.
A June 30th Report from the USCIS Ombudsman determined the Agency did Not Recruit enough Staff to Manage the boost in Applications after Trump's Election.
Naturalized Citizens make up about 10% of the Americans who can Vote in November, according to the Pew Research Center.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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