Nov 10th, 2009
Posted by Ankit Rastogi, Immigrants' Rights Project at 4:19pm	Due Process

Years in Immigration Purgatory Come to an End in Southern California

After years in immigration purgatory, a settlement approved yesterday will allow legal permanent residents across southern California to finally have the opportunity to have their citizenship applications processed.

The Los Angeles Times covered the settlement, which came after the ACLU of Southern California and the National Immigration Law Center filed a lawsuit in 2007 on behalf of hundreds of legal immigrants who satisfied the requirements to become U.S. citizens but were left in limbo for months or years due to slow processing of a background check called the FBI name check.

Since 2003, there have been systemic delays in naturalization because the government changed the FBI name check procedure so that applicants’ names are checked not only against the names of suspects and targets of investigations, but also innocent people who have been in contact with the FBI, such as witnesses, victims and people who have applied for security clearances. As a result, the FBI name check process takes much longer than the six months mandated under federal law. Furthermore, the government does not provide any reasons, so the applicants have no way of fighting these delays.

"The naturalization process has been a bureaucratic nightmare for so many permanent residents who did everything right to become citizens of this country," said Jennie Pasquarella, staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California in the Los Angeles Times article. "This restores the dream of citizenship and ensures that the government will be held accountable."

Under the terms of the settlement, the FBI and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have agreed to process 90 percent of the backlogged applications in the next six months. In addition, the suit requires that the FBI and USCIS report their progress in reducing the backlogs in naturalization applications.

Permalink |	Due Process

1. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:00pm

   I am so sick of these ILLEGAL immigrants, thinking they have rights in our country. They should all be round up and shipped back to their respective countries, because they are here ILLEGALLY!!! They should have no rights, they should not receive our health care, they should not receive our food stamps, home loans, etc. I can't believe there are people in this would, that believe that they have rights. What is wrong with you people? When the Mexicans start doing their marches down the main streets, INS should be there arresting and deporting all of them....WE AMERICANS ARE SICK OF IT.. Thank goodness for Governor Joe in Arizona. He treats them as any CRIMINAL should be treated... We Americans are sick of these ILLEGALS being treated better than our own kind. If Americans go into another country, illegally, we would be arrested and deported, so what makes the ILLEGALS think they should not be... GET REAL!

2. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 11th, 2009 at 4:59am

   Don't skimp on security. The important thing is that it's done thoroughly, n o matter how long it takes.

3. Paen Says:
   Nov 11th, 2009 at 2:22pm

   Most of the so called illegal immigrants are of Indian descent while the bigots calling for their deportation
   are white and whose ancestors stole the land from the Indians.Therefore it's the bigots who should be deported and the immigrants who should be left alone.
   This also reminds me of a cartoon where
   an Indian watches a flying saucer land
   with the caption saying 'oh no not again'

4. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 12th, 2009 at 1:59pm

   in response to answer #1.
   dont you just hate ignorance? especially ignorant people who like running their mouths without knowing what theyre talking about?
   1. undocumented people DO have rights under our government. this is part of the 14th amendment,"nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
   notice the word PERSONS??? Yeah, thats right, persons, not citizens or permanent residents. anyone under us jurisdiction is entitled to these rights!!
   2. undocumented people dont even take advantage of the privileges theyre entitled to because they fear being deported...which means that they dont really use our health care system because theyre afraid of being deported!
   3. undocumented people pay taxes.
   4. undocumented people are part of the backbone of the us economy. they are the ones willing to do the lowest paying jobs. would you like to work in the fields picking fruit in 110 degree weather? i dont think so.
   5. i like how our government counts undocumented people for representation in congress YET they do not allow them to vote for those who will be "representing" them.
   6. and finally, UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY MEXICAN, THEY COME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.

   SIDE COMMENTS:
   *PASS THE DREAM ACT!!!!
   AND SOME KIND OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

   [:

5. Native American Navy Veteran Says:
   Nov 13th, 2009 at 10:32am

   In response to #8, the United States of American Constitution only applies to citizens of the U.S.A. In the Constitution, person == citizen, only!
   QED

6. Native American Navy Veteran Says:
   Nov 13th, 2009 at 10:32am

   In response to #8, the United States of American Constitution only applies to citizens of the U.S.A. In the Constitution, person == citizen, only!
   QED

7. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 14th, 2009 at 12:15am

   In response to # 9/10...
   The Constitution also protects undocumented people to a certain extent. If it didnt undocumented kids would not be guaranteed a public education (k-12)...plyler v. doe!!

8. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 15th, 2009 at 11:05am

   I got one for #8.As a kid, I was out in the fields whenever I was needed, as tobacco was and still is a huge cash crop in this region. Matter of fact, this is where the best Dark Fired tobacco was grown. Now that I am grown and have to provide for myself, I am out in the heat, cold, snow and rain, every day all day. Down in a ditch, up on a roof, covered in dirt, sweat, blood, concrete, brick and block dust, insulation, saw dust and anything else associated with the aspects of construction. And believe me, the summers here are alot worse than out west. Not only is it hot, but extremely humid. A one two punch. I don't like the fact that illegal immigrants have swooped in and are doing the jobs alot of other people seem to not be interested in. Not only do they have it better as far as "rights" go, but their workmanship sucks. Just because you stand out in front of the Home Depot doesn't make you a Tradesman.

9. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 16th, 2009 at 2:49pm

   Yes, anyone who is in the USofA has protection under the constitution and should. So lets enforce the laws of our great country that many have fought and died for, and send the illegal immagrants home to change their country to be like the USofA. don't come here as a criminal (and they are)and try to change our country. we like it the way it is and yes it would be better WITH OUT the ACLU.

10. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 16th, 2009 at 2:49pm

    Yes, anyone who is in the USofA has protection under the constitution and should. So lets enforce the laws of our great country that many have fought and died for, and send the illegal immagrants home to change their country to be like the USofA. don't come here as a criminal (and they are)and try to change our country. we like it the way it is and yes it would be better WITH OUT the ACLU.

11. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 12:13am

    say yes to amnesty! I want amnesty for everyone! And anyone that steps foot on this country will be AUTOMATICALLY become a citizen! Hopefully all people will come to this country for free because that is what this country is about: Not a country of laws but a country of freedom!

12. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 1:39am

    in response to #11.
    Its radicals like yourself that make conservatices oppose having an amnesty!!! only those who have been here for a set period of time should be able to get permanent residency.
    the fourteenth amendment clearly defines citizenship and in case you didnt know you have to become a permanent resident before becoming a citizen.

13. Frank Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 12:58pm

    I wonder how the indians felt when the settlers took their land and brough many diseases that killed many of them.

    Online areas are always a place for bigots to gather. The Constitution does protect everyone to include illegal aliens. It protects even us citizens from being unlawfully profiled by the police.

    I just love the ignorance brought on by the bigots that haven't a clue about the entire picture and see it from the perspective of bigotry. You should all be ashamed of your behavior.

14. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 1:08pm

    In response to #12 you are clearly wrong Read it again. "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." It has nothing to do with citizenship. The Supreme Courts has ruled so. Can't you comprehend what it says? Obviously not.

15. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:08pm

    Good good! I want Amnesty to pass! That will be a very positive step towards liberalism! In fact, I always vouched for anyone that enters this country by any means necessary can become an instant citizen! Come my global citizens and reap the fruits of what this great nation has to give! To all people that are born here: Give up your xenophobic ways and give us your wealth! I will be encouraging everybody that I have known to go through Mexico or Canada to obtain their wealth from US citizens! I want no borders in both Mexico and Canada so people could move freely about without any worries of nation's laws. If history is a great indicator, before we even HAD any borders, people moved freely about in ANYWHERE!

16. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:16pm

    To bigots and xenophobes on this board, you have not even read the history of the plight of many immigrants that migrated here. In fact, this entitlement behavior that these types of people exhibit is sickening to my stomach. No one should be left in the cold just because they entered in other means besides obtaining a green card. I want as many people around the world to come to this great nation of what it has to offer. And people like post #12 has the audacity to be so selfish? Too narrow-minded to see what is ahead without ever thinking of the positives that these hard working immigrants have gave us? I won't mind if Obama passes an amnesty act for all of these troubled souls that live in constant fear of threats from people like post # 12. The more immigrants that come to this nation, the better it will be for them to offer their services to continue the great American experiment.

17. Anonymous Says:
    Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:12pm

    In response to #16! I’m sure that #12 understands the plight of these immigrants but at the same time not all of them have shown to be these hard working individuals. You cant expect the government to just give citizenship away like nothing, there are prescribed procedures which must be followed. If you give away citizenship away it will not only lose is meaning but it will also lead to an invflux of immigration and these people wont just be friendly and hard working individuals, but people who have no allegiance to this nation what so ever. I know this may sound a little paranoid or whatnot, but they could possibly even be t errorists trying to get into our system. While I support an amnesty, I also believe that there should be regulations as to who can become a permanent resident.
    In response to #14. You my friend are not paying attention to what #12 was talking about. He or she was not referring to who the 14th amendment/constitution protects but the naturalization process because the person before her or him wanted to have everyone come and automatically be a citizen without realzing that you do have to become a permanent citizen first

Name

E-mail

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Homepage

• Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
• Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

What code is in the image? *

Enter the characters shown in the image. Ignore spaces and be careful about upper and lower case.