(Image: listland.com)
(CNSNews.com) -- The U.S. government announced on July 27 that it will continue to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to fund English, history, and civics courses, as well as naturalization legal services to foreigners seeking legal American citizenship, according to Judicial Watch.
According to a Homeland Security grant obtained by Judicial Watch, the $10 million will be allocated to the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The program, which will distribute the money across 36 organizations, aims to provide hopeful immigrants with classes in U.S. history and government in preparation for the citizenship test, as well for activities that promote civic and linguistic assimilation.
“Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English and of U.S. history and civics, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully assimilate into society,” the Homeland Security grant states.
“Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants will gain the tools to become successful citizens and assimilate into our society and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.”
The classes, led by specialized teachers, will focus on reading, writing and speaking. The civic assimilation activities will include trips to local historical landmarks, guest speakers, such as local civic leaders and public servants, and additional activities to allow students to further understand their future roll as a U.S. citizen.
The program will also fund naturalization application services for aspiring immigrants, which will provide assistance in the preparation and submission of government forms, interview preparation, representation at naturalization interviews and ongoing case management.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, since 2009, approximately $63 million taxpayer dollars have gone towards similar citizenship preparation services.
“In its final months, the Obama administration doled out $29 million via USCIS grants to register new immigrant voters that likely supported Democrats in the presidential election,” stated Judicial Watch. “Officially it was described as ‘citizenship integration’ aimed at enhancing pathways to naturalization by offering immigrants free citizenship instruction, English, U.S. history and civics courses.”
“The money flowed through two separate USCIS grants, the first for $19 million and a second, just five months later, for $10 million,” said Judicial Watch. “That grant came in a final push before the presidential election to prepare approximately 25,000 residents from more than 50 countries. More than a dozen states—including California, New York, Florida, Washington and Ohio—with large resident immigrant populations were targeted as well as cities with huge immigrant populations such as Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C.”