Press Releases

Termination of Naturalization Grants Leaves Legal Residents Without Support to Become U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is leading 54 House Democrats in demanding the Trump administration reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program after it was fully terminated last month—just weeks after a surprise funding freeze. This move abruptly cut off support for local organizations helping lawful permanent residents become U.S. citizens, despite the fact that these grants were fully funded by Congress and legally awarded. A list of grant recipients impacted by the funding freeze is available — click HERE for FY23 recipients and HERE for FY24 recipients.

“We write to express our outrage regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to terminate all work under the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program,” wrote Rep. Gomez and the lawmakers. “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,” continued the lawmakers. “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’ new letter follows an effort led by Rep. Gomez on March 7 demanding answers after the program was frozen without warning. DHS has still not responded. Then on March 27, grantees were notified the program was being shut down — some immediately, others with just 30 days’ notice. Since 2009, the C&A Grant Program, previously known as the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, has funded organizations that assist immigrants with citizenship applications, English language instruction, and civics education. The lawmakers warn its sudden termination will disrupt services and harm immigrant communities.

Rep. Gomez was joined in demanding answers by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Chuy García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), John Larson (CT-01), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

The letter was supported by the following organizations: National Partnership for New Americans, NALEO Educational Fund, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), UnidosUS, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Language & Communication Workshop, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, CARECEN, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, CASA, Make the Road New Jersey, Make the Road Connecticut, Make the Road New York, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Make the Road Nevada, Make the Road States, Refugee Council USA, Welcoming America, Project Citizenship, Maine Immigrants Coalition Rights, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, Building Skills Partnership, Refugee Women's Alliance, Asian Law Alliance, Jones Library, Inc., Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, Hamkae Center, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, MinKwon Center for Community Action, International Rescue Committee, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Woori Juntos, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc., HANA Center, The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, Inc, Korean Community Service Center (KCSC), Hispanic Federation, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, GALEO Impact Fund, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Refugee Congress.

You can read the full letter here.

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