In a recent Newsweek article titled “Why Fewer Green Card Holders Could Become US Citizens,” Eric Welsh discussed how proposed fee increases for key naturalization forms, specifically Form N-400 and Form N-336, could delay U.S. citizenship applications for lawful permanent residents, in addition to the Trump administration’s denaturalization efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed modifications that would eliminate the reduced fee option for Form N-400, increase the paper filing fee from $760 to $1,330, and end fee waivers for naturalization-related forms. Eric notes that these financial and procedural hurdles could deter low-income applicants, emphasizing that “poverty itself is not a lawful reason to deny a naturalization application.” He also explained the broader impact of these hikes, stating “nonetheless, fee increases often have a general chilling effect, since low-income applicants often do not know that the fee is waivable (or whether they qualify for the waiver).”
Eric also highlights a significant concern raised by his clients, sharing that through “countless conversations” with eligible green card holders, he has found many are too afraid to apply for naturalization because a denial could expose them to immigration enforcement. He added that “the irony is that naturalization is the best protection against deportation available to a green card holder, but many are afraid to apply because of the fear of enforcement.”
Eric explains that a major incentive for lawful permanent residents to achieve U.S. naturalization is the ability to sponsor certain family members, telling Newsweek that “a permanent resident cannot petition a parent for visa classification,” adding, “but a U.S. citizen can.” However, reaching this milestone comes with immense anxiety for many green card holders who feel exposed during the application process. As Eric emphasized to Newsweek, “a lot of my clients see citizenship as the ‘finish line,’ and, until they cross that line, they know that they are vulnerable to ICE on the streets and CBP at the airports.”
