Malden Mayor Opposes 'Wealth Test' For Citizenship

MALDEN, MA — Malden has joined a multi-state lawsuit seeking to block the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from making the naturalization process more expensive for eligible residents.

Mayor Gary Christenson — along with 33 other counties and cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors — argues that the policy would price out immigrants who want to become American citizens. The group filed an amicus brief in support of Project Citizenship in its lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.

Project Citizenship works with community-based organizations to help eligible, legal permanent residents overcome barriers to becoming a U.S. citizen. The group filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy that would make it more expensive for U.S. residents to apply for naturalization.

It currently costs $725 to apply for naturalization. But beginning Oct. 2, the USCIS will raise the cost to $1,200 and eliminate the fee waiver for low-income residents.

With the help of Malden City Solicitor Kathryn Fallon, the city joined in the filing of the brief, which calls the fee increase a "wealth test" for citizenship and says it reduces the number of eligible applicants and frustrates the efforts of communities to help their immigrant populations with naturalization.

"We felt that it was important to participate in this filing," Christenson said in a statement. "All immigrants, regardless of their background or economic status, should have equal access to the naturalization process."