US Citizenship Requests Surge Ahead of Election

The federal government is processing U.S. citizenship applications at the fastest rate in a decade, with a current average processing time of 4.9 months, down from 11.5 months three years ago. Approximately 3.3 million immigrants have become naturalized citizens since President Biden took office, in part due to a simplified application process and increased application fees. This acceleration in naturalization is seen as potentially reshaping the electorate ahead of a pivotal election, with new citizens gaining the right to vote in key battleground states. The Biden administration's efforts to expedite naturalization contrast with the previous administration’s tighter approval regime and are partly aimed at clearing backlogs from the Trump era and the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics argue that this surge in naturalization favors Democrats, while proponents emphasize the importance of efficient immigration processes. In a broader context, the Albanese government in Australia has also set records with a high intake of migrants, reflecting global trends in immigration and citizenship policies.