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| For Immediate Release | |
| Nov 9, 2000 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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INS “Backlog Reduction Program” Repeats 1996 “Citizenship USA” Scandal INS Examiners Given Extra 40 Hours Paid Time Off For Rushing Naturalization (Washington, DC) Based on discussions with an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) source, Judicial Watch said today that the Florida District of the INS has engaged in a systematic program of rushing aliens through the naturalization process to meet INS headquarters “goals” by October 1, 1999 and October 1, 2000. In Florida, a new citizen can register to vote up to October 10th. An INS source told Judicial Watch that the program is nearly identical to the now infamous 1996 “Citizenship USA” program, wherein thousands of aliens – some with criminal backgrounds – were improperly and illegally rushed through the naturalization process in order to obtain Democratic votes for the presidential election. The Florida INS effort has been termed the “Backlog Reduction Program,” – a neutral, bureaucratic-sounding title designed to lower the program’s visibility with the media and the general public. INS examiners and clerks who met or exceeded headquarters goals and quotas for the program were rewarded with various types of bonuses, including an extra 40 hours of paid time off. Judicial Watch has also learned that, as part of this program, non-English speakers have had naturalization interviews illegally conducted in the alien’s native language, as well as a case where an alien without any residence, family or business ties in the US was naturalized only three days after returning to the US from an 11 - ˝ month absence from the country. “This sounds like another illegal ‘import-a-voter’ program by the Clinton-Gore Administration. Leave it to Clinton-Gore to desecrate the citizenship process.” commented Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. Chairman Larry Klayman vowed that, “Judicial Watch will pursue these charges no matter who comes to occupy The White House.” |
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