Dems blast immigration fee hikes

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Congressional Democrats have sharply criticized President Bush's proposed naturalized citizenship and visa fee hikes and pledged to fight the measures.

Many Democrats said the proposed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fee increases would unfairly target poorer prospective immigrants, the Washington Times reported Thursday.

"Many in the immigrant community see the increase for what it is -- increasing the cost of the American dream, telling those least fortunate among us they probably need not apply," Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., said.

"Don't you provide them an incentive to do an end-around and come here illegally?" Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., asked USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez on the subject of fee hikes during a meeting of the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee.

The new fees are scheduled to take effect this summer after the USCIS finalizes the plan. Blocking the increases would require measures passed by both houses of Congress, the report said.