Democrats call on Trump to reinstate path to citizenship program
Fifty-four Democrats, led by Rep. Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), are demanding that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), housed under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), restore the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program that the Trump administration ended in late March.
'We demand immediate action to restore funding for the C&A Program and a prompt response to our questions regarding the rationale and legal basis for its termination. This action marks a significant escalation since an abrupt funding freeze was announced just weeks ago on February 4, 2025,' Democrats wrote in a six-page Thursday letter to USCIS's acting director Kika Scott, that was shared with The Hill.
The Hill has reached out to USCIS for comment.
The Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, which was founded in 2009, provides funding for nonprofit organizations around the country that help lawful permanent residents in their naturalization quest. The groups provide resources such as application assistance and U.S. civics instruction, aiding the individuals in their journey to become citizens of the United States.
'The sudden and unilateral decision to terminate legally awarded grants funded by Congressional appropriation, without prior notice to Congress or affected grantees, raises serious concerns about due process, legal authority, and the Department's commitment to advancing naturalization services for aspiring citizens,' the lawmakers said in the letter to Scott, who was appointed as USCIS's acting director in February.
The funds for the program were frozen in early February. In response, Democrats urged the USCIS to reinstate the funds, arguing in a March 7 letter that the program saves USCIS time and resources 'otherwise spent resolving errors, issuing requests for evidence, or reprocessing applications.' Democrats said they have not received a response to the March letter.
The lawmakers said the grantees were notified of the program's termination on March 27. In Thursday's letter, they asked Scott what evidence USCIS has to back the argument that the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program 'no longer serves programmatic goals or DHS priorities, and who authorized this determination?'
'The abrupt termination of a longstanding and effective grant program—carried out without explanation or consultation—raises serious concerns about governance, oversight, and public trust,' the Democrats said in the letter.
Apart from Gomez, the letter was signed by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Democratic Reps. Yassamin Ansari (Ariz.), Nanette Díaz Barragán (Calif.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.), André Carson (Ind.), Greg Casar (Texas), Judy Chu (Calif.), Gil Cisneros (Calif.), Lou Correa (Calif.), Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Jason Crow (Colo.), Danny Davis (Ill.), Madeleine Dean (Pa.), Diana DeGette (Colo.), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Robert Garcia (Calif.), Jesús 'Chuy' García (Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (Texas), Dan Goldman (N.Y.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Hank Johnson (Ga.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.), John Larson (Conn.), Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Betty McCollum (Minn.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Rob Menendez (N.J.), Grace Meng (N.Y.), Dave Min (Calif.), Seth Moulton (Mass.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), Chellie Pingree (Maine), Mark Pocan (Wis.), Delia Ramirez (Ill.), Luz Rivas (Calif.), Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Mary Gay Scanlon (Pa.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), Terri Sewell (Ala.), Adam Smith (Wash.), Darren Soto (Fla.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Paul Tonko (N.Y.), Norma Torres (Calif.), Juan Vargas (Calif.), and Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.).
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