Immigrant advocates decry new rules

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Immigrant advocates say fee increases and other measures could make it more difficult for those in the United States legally to become citizens.

A coalition of immigrant rights groups sent a letter last week to Emilio Gonzalez, the director of the U.S. citizenship bureau, the Los Angeles Times reported. The letter mentioned a possible doubling of the application fee to $800, a "digital barrier" that requires filing for citizenship online, increases in the number of forms to be filled out and a more difficult citizenship test.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which organized the letter, called the changes "a second wall," referring to the proposed wall along the Mexican border approved by President George W. Bush.

"Together they appear to us a clear strategy pursued through administrative fiat to make the dream of American citizenship unattainable for many lower-income, less-educated immigrants," the letter said.