Traditionally. however. the courts role is of a ceremonial nature and very rarely does it overturn an INS decision. In fact. only 131 of 200.000 applications were denied by the courts in fiscal year 1984. H.R. 5558 simply allows the INS to carry its process one step further by performing the ceremonial aspects of naturalization. In cases where the applicant may wish to have a court ceremony. that will be arranged. In my 6 years as Immigration Subcommittee chairman. this issue has been one of the most frequently addressed during the oversight process. Each year. the Immigration Subcommittee has grappled with the increased volume of naturalization applications by authorizing more personnel and funding to reduce backlogs: In fiscal year 1984. the committee authorized the addition of 140 positions. fiscal year 1985. 170 positions. fiscal year 1986. 94 positions. Additionally. in 1981. the subcommittee processed legislation under the "INS Efficiency Bill" which removed the two witness requirement for naturalization to streamline the naturalization process. The Immigration Service has also attempted to cope with the heavy increases in the naturalization program through computerization of records. institution of new management programs. and more efficient utilization of resources. as well as dispatching task forces to high backlog areas. The courts. too. have scheduled more hearings to try to accommodate the increase in applicants. But even with all these efforts. naturalization backlogs continue in the courts: U.S. District Court. west North Carolina. 8 months. U.S.
Keywords matched
naturalization Immigration