Alejandro Mayorkas United States Secretary of Homeland Security | Official Website
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced several initiatives aimed at improving accessibility to immigration benefits and services, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision for a more inclusive and accessible immigration system.
On June 18, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled actions to promote family unity in the immigration process. Starting August 19, 2024, eligible spouses and children will be able to apply for legal status while remaining with their families.
USCIS is also expanding its Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. Since 2009, this program has awarded $155 million through 644 grants to organizations providing citizenship preparation services to over 350,000 eligible immigrants across 41 states and the District of Columbia.
New funding opportunities include the Citizenship and Integration Training Academy (CITA), which opened its application period on May 15. This initiative provides up to $2.6 million in competitive funding for public or nonprofit organizations that have not previously received USCIS grant funding.
Additionally, on April 24, USCIS began accepting applications for up to $10 million in competitive funding through the Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS). This program supports organizations offering legal services, citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, training, and Board of Immigration Appeals accreditation. The total awards for these opportunities amount to $12.6 million, with awardees expected to be announced in September during Constitution Day and Citizenship Day/Constitution Week.
USCIS is launching "USCIS to You," an initiative designed to bring immigration-related assistance into local communities, including remote or underserved areas. This effort aims to reduce barriers such as long distances from field offices and inadequate access to legal support.
The agency is also introducing a Remote Access initiative as part of its ongoing efforts to serve customers in remote or underserved areas. This includes offering benefit application interviews via video-facilitated N-400 interviews, appointments for in-person services, naturalization ceremonies, and outreach activities. USCIS plans routine remote services across various locations nationwide every quarter starting fiscal year 2025.
Furthermore, USCIS will conduct three focused engagements per quarter at public libraries, law school clinics, or events hosted by nongovernmental organizations throughout the country. The agency will partner with public libraries in areas with significant immigrant populations like California and New York.
Community organizations often provide citizenship classes and assistance with the naturalization process during evenings and weekends. USCIS supports these programs when requested or identified.
Lastly, USCIS collaborates with the Law School Community of Practice (LSCOP), which encourages law schools and NGOs to engage in naturalization-focused assistance especially in rural or vulnerable communities. LSCOP comprises 28 law schools and eight NGOs that pre-screen individuals for naturalization eligibility.
For more resources on community help related to immigration services visit Find Help in Your Community | USCIS
