CITIZENSHIP

PRIMARY POINTS:

The citizenship process needs to be refined in both cost and "red tape".
Pathways to Citizenship should be created to assist potential applicants for citizenship where the process for citizenship would be expedited through civil and social service.

DETAILED SOLUTIONS:

The following are a combination of my ideas and solutions created through research into the citizenship process in New York and conversations with average citizens of the 117th Assembly District.

The ideas and solutions discussed here are not final and will always be fluid and will change with the needs of the people of this district before the needs and wants of political parties.

Please feel free to add your insight via the SOLUTIONS DISCUSSION below.

The path to citizenship is a long and costly investment that makes it difficult for people wishing to become citizens to do so. The State of New York cannot change the Federal requirements for citizenship but we can streamline the process for those applying. I would create legislation that would help cut through the red tape in the process and streamline it. Additionally, my legislation would offer State assistance to assist in the cost of the process. This process would place applicants into programs to ensure employment and, or continuing education and "serving" a term of time as "repayment" for the process. Once that "term" or "contract" obligation has been met, these applicants would meet the requirements to become citizens and the State would expedite those applications and cover any cost incurred.