[ACLU-CU ALERT] Fwd: Action Needed! Oppose Proposed Immigration Fee Increases!

[Champaign County ACLU Announcements]

Dear Community Member and ACLU Supporter,

Your voice is needed by the New American Welcome Center and the immigrant
community!

On November 14, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published
a proposal to increase citizenship fees and limit fee waivers for
naturalization. If the proposed changes go into effect, people will be
priced out of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, work permits,
asylum, DACA, and more.

The proposed fee increases include:

   - An* 83% increase* of the N-400 naturalization application *from $640
   to $1,170;*
   - DACA renewal fees will go from *$495 to $765;*
   - *A $50 fee for affirmative asylum*--for the first time in history,
   this administration wants to charge people fleeing violence in their home
   countries to apply for asylum;
   - An *elimination of full and partial fee waivers* for naturalization,
   work permits, and green card applications and renewals
   - Separate fees for work permits, reentry permits, and I-485 adjustment
   applications for applicants of adjustment of status (green cards). Instead
   of paying $1,225 for all three applications,* the increase would amount
   to $2,195 *for all three, *nearly an 80% increase.*

USCIS claims that without implementing these changes, it falls short of its
operating costs by more than $1.2 billion each year. *This analysis
includes a transfer of $207 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) to conduct fraud investigations and cover other unspecified costs. *

Ending fee waivers and raising fees will inhibit thousands of long-term
legal immigrants from seeking citizenship, excluding them from civic
processes and other rights that come with citizenship. It will prevent
thousands of eligible immigrants from obtaining greater security in our
communities, obtaining work authorization, and seeking safety through
asylum. It is unconscionable that USCIS would put the burden of funding ICE
on immigrants.

This is just the latest attack on low-income and under-resourced immigrants
in our community, but you can do something about it!

*A public comment period is currently open, but will end on Monday,
December 16, 2019. To submit a comment and stand in solidarity with
immigrant communities, go to the Federal Register
<https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2019-0010-0001> and click on
the ‘Comment Now’ button. Public comments have the power to potentially
change proposed rules, making them less harsh, and help delay
implementation and support lawsuits filed against the rule. They are
necessary and really make a difference, so please make sure you comment!*

Additionally, I strongly encourage you to join us at next week's
Immigration Forum on *Tuesday, December 10 *from *5-6 pm *at the University
YMCA. We'll discuss the proposed rule in depth and give you the opportunity
to submit a public comment before you leave the forum. You can find the
Facebook event here <https://www.facebook.com/events/564701340973932/>.
Please invite your friends, family and coworkers, and make sure to RSVP
"Going" if you plan to be there!

Thank you for being an ally and advocate for immigrant families! Please
reach out with any questions.

Zoë Foote
Immigrant Services Coordinator, New American Welcome Center
DOJ Accredited Representative
University YMCA
1001 South Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820
universityymca.org/welcome <http://www.universityymca.org/welcome> |
facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ynawc/>

*Immigrant Helpline & Legal Consultations:* 217-417-5897; Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://aclu-cu.org/pipermail/announce_aclu-cu.org/attachments/20191204/7b7b22d0/attachment-0002.html>