To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain naturalization requirements for United States nationals, and for other purposes.
This bill would create a new, more streamlined path for United States nationals (people who owe permanent allegiance to the United States but are not U.S. citizens) to become U.S. citizens. A key feature is treating residence in U.S. outlying possessions (territories and similar areas) as equivalent to residence in the United States for naturalization purposes. It allows certain nationals who have resided continuously in the United States or in any outlying possession from birth to qualify with fewer standard requirements, and it authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide naturalization processes, including interviews and fees, in outlying possessions. The bill also broadens eligibility for the children of United States nationals and gives DHS discretion to waive interviews or reduce fees under this pathway. The sponsor is Rep. Radewagen, and the measure is introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee; it has not become law.
Key Points
- 1Expands naturalization eligibility for United States nationals by counting residence in outlying possessions as residence in the United States for purposes of naturalization, and allows a pathway when an applicant has resided in a possession from birth.
- 2For nationals who have continuously resided in any State or outlying possession from birth, the bill would let them naturalize with fewer or different requirements than the standard naturalization process, including waiving certain sections of current law (with specifics in the bill) and allowing a potentially reduced or modified process.
- 3The Secretary of Homeland Security would provide and oversee naturalization processes (including applications, interviews, oaths, and ceremonies) in outlying possessions for those applying under this special pathway, as well as for related applicants and certain dependent children.
- 4The bill permits the Secretary to waive personal interviews and to impose a reduced naturalization fee for applications filed under this special pathway.
- 5Section 322(a)(5) of the INA (concerning certain children) would be amended to include a child who is present in an outlying possession of the United States as eligible in the derivative naturalization context (i.e., eligibility tied to the parent’s status).
- 6Continuity rules are adjusted to allow up to 180 days of absence without breaking residence, with the Secretary having discretion to determine if residence was abandoned or not; the process of naturalization under this pathway can be individualized through DHS discretion.