    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [August 22, 1996]
    [Pages 1330-1331]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Naturalization
    August 22, 1996

    Memorandum for the Attorney General, Secretary of Health and Human
    Services, and Other Heads of Executive Agencies

    Subject: Naturalization

        Citizenship is the cornerstone of full participation in our
    democracy. To become a United States citizen through naturalization
    represents a pledge to undertake the responsibilities of being a full
    member of our national community.
        Naturalization is the best example of our legal immigration system
    at work. It reflects our society's recognition of those who came to this
    country to work hard, play by the rules, and pursue shared ideals of
    freedom, opportunity, and responsibility.
        In the past, hundreds of thousands of eligible people have had to
    wait unnecessarily to become citizens. In some parts of the country,
    these people have had to wait well over a year after filing their
    application to realize their dream of United States citizenship.
        This Administration is committed to eliminating the waiting lists of
    those eligible for citizenship. To accomplish this, we launched
    ``Citizenship U.S.A.,'' the most ambitious citizenship effort in
    history. In fiscal year 1996, the Immigration and Naturalization Service
    (INS) will spend more than $165 million for naturalization.
        Citizenship U.S.A. combines three broad strategies: hiring more
    people to handle applications, improving the naturalization process, and
    expanding partnerships with local officials and community organizations.
        We are already making progress. We have increased the staff 235
    percent in the five districts with 75 percent of the pending
    applications: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago.
    In Los Angeles, where one-fourth of all new applications are filed, we
    have opened three new processing centers and have more than quadrupled
    the number of INS officers handling citizenship applications.
        But this is just the beginning. This Administration's target is to
    process and swear-in within 6 months of application all individuals
    eligible for citizenship. As we meet this target, more than one million
    newcomers will become citizens by the end of this year. After that, INS
    shall maintain those reforms necessary to stay current with the demand
    of new citizen applicants.
        Using all of the tools at your disposal, I ask you to ensure that
    policies and practices necessary to accomplish these targets of one
    million new citizens sworn-in and the elimination of the waiting list
    are implemented. This includes continuing, expanding or accelerating, as
    appropriate and practicable, the following:
        1) New Hires. Hiring, training, and deployment of full staff to
    assist naturalization efforts should proceed to completion as quickly as
    possible.
        2) Cutting Red Tape. This includes: establishing electronic filing
    and mailing-in of citizenship applications, extended weekday hours and
    Saturday interviews, further expansion of processing facilities, and
    improvements to make it easier

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    for people to obtain forms and get immigration information by telephone
    or computer.
        3) Working with Local Officials and Community-Based Groups. We are
    working in partnership with local officials and community groups to
    expand outreach. I direct you to expand these efforts to help get
    naturalization information to people, assist them in filling out
    applications, offer more local sites for interviews, especially for the
    elderly and the homebound, and seek other means to jointly facilitate
    the process. We also will work to expand the availability of local
    hotlines providing naturalization information.
        4) English Training. To assist legal immigrants to move toward
    citizenship, I request relevant agencies to work with the Domestic
    Policy Council, the National Economic Council, and other White House
    offices to present to me by December 30, 1996, a report making
    recommendations with respect to public/private efforts to teach English
    to those needing to improve their English-language skills. This report
    should consider possible roles by private companies, educational
    institutions, unions, community organizations, and the AmeriCorp program
    to accomplish this goal.
        5) Interagency Outreach. I direct each executive department and
    agency to take steps to promote naturalization outreach consistent with
    your agency's mission. In particular, in materials sent to welfare
    recipients concerning eligibility, I direct that, to the extent
    authorized by law, you include naturalization information.
        6) Refugees and Asylees. Those who flee persecution and suffering in
    their home country are often in the weakest position to acquire the
    skills they need to enter the job market, maintain self-sufficiency, and
    achieve U.S. citizenship. I direct the Secretary of Health and Human
    Services, in conjunction with other agencies as appropriate, to present
    to me by December 30, 1996, through the Domestic Policy Council, a
    report setting out a strategy of additional steps that we can take to
    promote social adjustment in the United States, economic self-
    sufficiency, and naturalization.
        In taking these steps, this Administration shall maintain and
    strengthen the standards and requirements of the naturalization test
    that demonstrate an individual's readiness to accept the
    responsibilities of citizenship and full participation in our national
    community. You are directed to continue vigilant oversight to uphold
    these standards.
        Hundreds of thousands of people are seeking the dream and the
    promise of American citizenship. They have worked to become United
    States citizens, and these steps should ensure that they are not made to
    wait unnecessarily.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on August 23.