Speech #1000071845

Mr. Speaker. H.R. 735 provides for administrative naturalization by conferring authority for determinations on citizenship on the Attorney General. It is identical to legislation which passed the House unanimously last Congress. The legislation is desperately needed in the areas of the country where fully qualified applicants for naturalization must wait as long as 2 years for judicial ceremonies to be sworn in as U.S. citizens. For those immigrants adopting this country. U.S. citizenship is a priceless possession. In return. our country is enriched with their contributions and each nationality and heritage is woven into rich tapestry of American society. These people wish to enjoy the rights of this great land. the right to practice religion freely. the right to participate in a democratic form of government. the right of life. liberty. and the pursuit of happiness. Yet the present system does them an injustice. Due to lengthy delays in the naturalization process. they are being denied employment opportunities. travel. the ability to confer immigration benefits on relatives. and most importantly they are denied the right to vote. The system has impediments including administrative and logistical problems and has not kept pace with the exponential increase in applications for citizenship. The number of applications for naturalization has increased from 171.000 in 1981 to 306.000 in 1985. In my State alone the waiting period can be as long as two years and there is a current backlog of 20.000 applicants. Todays bifurcated system provides that the Immigration and Naturalization Service does virtually all the processing and preliminary determinations and then makes recommendations on the cases to the courts. The courts. however. have the role of final disposition in the manner of swearing in the applicant. It is generally recognized that the role of the court is almost exclusively ceremonial and that the recommendations of the Attorney General are rarely overturned by the court. H.R. 735 will streamline this twostep burdensome process by allowing the Attorney General to make the determinations on citizenship and perform the swearingin of applicants. The bill specifically requires the Attorney General ensure the public ceremonies involving citizenship are in keeping with the "dignity of the occasion." An applicant still has the option of being sworn in before a district or State court judge. if he doesnt mind the lengthy waiting period. Appeals from decisions by the Immigration and Naturalization Service are available through the Board of Immigration Appeals and the District Court. This legislation simply provides a more costeffective. efficient manner of obtaining citizenship while relieving the applicant of onerous paperwork burdens. It is imperative that the system welcome its citizens in a timely and orderly fashion and with the dignity they deserve.