SILVER SPRING, Maryland – The administration has announced the termination of funding for the USCIS Citizenship and Integration grant program, which provides funding to community-based centers to support citizenship classes, naturalization application assistance, and integration services.

“Stripping funding for these incredibly useful, necessary programs is a devastating, foolish decision,” said Anna Gallagher, CLINIC’s executive director. “English and U.S. civics classes, along with application assistance, help hardworking immigrants navigate the costly, complex path to U.S. citizenship — allowing them to contribute even more to our society. Without these programs, the bar becomes too high for too many. Naturalized citizens enrich our country as community members, business owners, and neighbors. Why make it harder for them to succeed?”

CLINIC Affiliate organizations have been among the awardees of this grant program since 2009, which has helped more than 300,000 permanent residents prepare for citizenship over the past 15 years. Last year, 14 CLINIC Affiliate organizations were selected for funding.

“Without community-based programs to turn to for help, many low-income immigrants will simply not be able to apply for citizenship,” said Luis Guerra, director of field engagement at CLINIC. “These programs broke down financial and logistical barriers to citizenship. Many people can’t afford the application fee itself – how will they find or afford English classes or legal assistance on top of that? Without funding for these programs, citizenship becomes more and more a benefit only for the rich. CLINIC stands against that reality, and we will do everything we can to help our Affiliates serving those applying for citizenship.”