Expanding Opportunities for Citizenship: USCIS Announces Grant Program to Support Immigrants’ Path to Naturalization
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to promote the integration of immigrants into American society, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the expansion of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. This program, now open for applications, aims to provide funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. With a budget of up to $25 million, the grants will facilitate the preparation of immigrants for naturalization, as well as promote civic integration through enhanced knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.
USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou emphasized the significance of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program in fostering integration services for noncitizens on their journey to becoming American citizens. “Through additional funding opportunities, organizations will be able to reach more communities and ensure noncitizens have access to the tools and resources needed for citizenship education,” said Director Jaddou.
The expanded Citizenship and Integration Grant Program seeks to increase the availability of high-quality citizenship and integration services throughout the United States. The program offers several grant opportunities to eligible organizations:
- Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services: This grant opportunity aims to fund public or nonprofit organizations that provide both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to lawful permanent residents (LPRs). USCIS plans to award up to $300,000 each to 55 organizations over a two-year period through this opportunity. Interested organizations must submit their applications by July 28, 2023.
- Community and Regional Integration Network Grant: This grant opportunity focuses on extended integration services with a personalized approach to certain immigrants, including those who entered the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, were granted asylum, or were admitted or entered as Cuban or Haitian entrants. The eligibility for this program has been expanded to include organizations serving additional vulnerable populations, such as individuals admitted on a Special Immigrant Visa, victims of human trafficking and criminal activity, and abused spouses, children, and parents under the Violence Against Women Act. USCIS expects to award up to three public or nonprofit organizations with experience serving vulnerable populations up to $300,000 each for a period of two years. The deadline for applications is July 28, 2023.
- Regional Hub Program: The Regional Hub grant opportunity aims to enhance community and organizational capacity to identify, support, and prepare LPRs for citizenship. Recipients of this grant will help establish or expand citizenship networks, providing technical assistance to individual network members offering citizenship instruction and naturalization application services. Through this hub and spoke funding model, the Regional Hub Program seeks to holistically support LPRs on their pathway to citizenship, while also encouraging their integration into their receiving communities. USCIS anticipates awarding up to four grants of up to $1 million each for a period of two years. Applications for this opportunity must be submitted by July 28, 2023.
- Innovations in Citizenship Education Program: This grant opportunity supports public, nonprofit, or for-profit organizations that develop creative approaches to preparing immigrants for naturalization and promoting their civic, linguistic, and cultural integration into communities. Unlike other funding opportunities that target specific citizenship preparation services, the Innovations program invests in initiatives that explore innovative solutions to overcome barriers to naturalization and expand access to citizenship education and preparation services. USCIS plans to award up to 14 organizations up to $250,000 each for a two-year period through this opportunity. The deadline for applications is July 28, 2023.
Since its establishment in 2009, the USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has allocated $132 million through 579 grants to organizations serving immigrants. These grant recipients have provided citizenship preparation services to over 300,000 immigrants across 39 states and the District of Columbia. With support from Congress through appropriations in Fiscal Year 2023, USCIS aims to further extend these funding opportunities to communities nationwide. The announcement of the award recipients is expected in September 2023.
The expansion of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program signifies the United States’ commitment to supporting and empowering immigrants on their path to citizenship. By investing in citizenship education and integration services, the program promotes inclusivity, diversity, and the shared values that define the American experience.
To apply for these funding opportunities, visit www.grants.gov. USCIS encourages applicants to visit www.grants.gov before the application deadline to obtain the registration information needed to complete the application process.
For additional information on the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program for fiscal year 2023, visit or email the USCIS Office of Citizenship at citizenshipgrantprogram@uscis.dhs.gov.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov
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