A lawsuit, seeking class action status, against the U.S. Government has been filed on behalf of 10 South Florida residents claiming the government has caused "extraordinary delays" in judging citizenship applications. The complaint indicates that the residents include nationals of Russia, Cuba, Panama, Guyana, Morocco, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have been waiting between two and four years for a decision on their naturalization.
Some of these residents have spouses or children who have already been approved, and that others are separated from their family members in their home countries. The lawsuit alleges the long wait is due to delays by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in completing name checks. The current FBI name check process was implemented in 2002 and searches all FBI files, while prior to 2002, names checks only searched the main subjects of an FBI investigation. The lawsuit further claims that federal law requires a decision within 120 days of the naturalization interview.
JUN-06-08: [BIZ JOURNALS: IMMIGRATION DELAYS]
Search for: Ten sue over citizenship delays
