Key Takeaways
• DHS cut longstanding federal funding for Pennsylvania’s free citizenship classes and legal aid to green card holders in 2025.
• Similar funding cuts impacted programs in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, and more, leaving immigrants without crucial support.
• A lawsuit alleges DHS illegally ended grants despite Congressional funding, affecting over 350,000 potential new U.S. citizens nationwide.
The Department of Homeland Security recently cut federal funding for a Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 program that has helped many lawful permanent residents take important steps toward becoming U.S. citizens. This loss of funds affects far more than just one organization. It is part of a wider pattern of federal funding cuts that now threatens citizenship programs across the United States 🇺🇸, affecting immigrants, community groups, and anyone who wants to see strong and welcoming communities.
Federal Funding Cut Shuts Down Free Citizenship Support
Earlier this year, the Citizenship & Integration Program in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 🇺🇸, lost federal support it had depended on for 15 years. This program, run by Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13) and Church World Service (CWS), offered free citizenship classes and legal services to lawful permanent residents—people who already have green cards and are legally allowed to live in the country. As reported by VisaVerge.com, such programs have become a lifeline for many who want to apply for citizenship but might not know where to start or may not be able to pay for help.
Here’s what the Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 program used to provide before the funding was taken away:
- Morning and evening citizenship classes in Lancaster and Lebanon, all free
– Legal screening for naturalization, at no cost for those beginning the application - Free legal help throughout the citizenship application process
For years, these services made it possible for green card holders—many of whom have family and jobs in the U.S. and want to lay down deeper roots—to study for the test, understand what was expected of them, and submit strong, complete citizenship applications. Removing the funds has changed all that.
A Broader Pattern Across the United States
This decision is not just about Pennsylvania 🇺🇸. Across the country, other states and organizations are seeing similar federal funding cuts. The Biden Administration’s Department of Homeland Security had, for many years, supported citizenship help programs through grants. However, starting in 2025, many grants have been revoked or simply not renewed, and the impact has been felt from Massachusetts 🇺🇸 to Wisconsin 🇺🇸 and beyond.
For example:
- In Massachusetts 🇺🇸, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition announced earlier this year that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) froze $300,000 meant for citizenship application assistance. This cut was later made permanent.
- In Madison, Wisconsin 🇺🇸, the Literacy Network lost around one-third of its federal citizenship funding after a grant was quickly revoked in March 2025.
- In other states—including Maryland 🇺🇸, California 🇺🇸, Minnesota 🇺🇸, Utah 🇺🇸, and more—nonprofit groups have suffered intense setbacks as both freezes and official cuts took away grants meant to help local residents on their path to naturalization.
These examples show that the Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 situation is just one part of a much larger federal pullback, which has left many citizenship programs scrambling to survive.
Consequences for Immigrants and Service Providers
These federal funding cuts have had many serious effects on both immigrants hoping to become citizens and the organizations created to help them.
First, service providers have had to let go of staff who taught classes, reviewed paperwork, and helped clients understand their rights and responsibilities. Without enough money, there simply are not enough people to guide all those who need help.
Second, free citizenship classes—well-known for their morning and evening schedules and their open access for people of all backgrounds—have been canceled in many places. This closure means hundreds of people in the middle of the process must now try to finish their citizenship journey alone or pay privately for help they might not be able to afford.
Third, legal representation for people in the middle of the naturalization process has been put on hold for hundreds. These programs often helped clients fill out paperwork, handle interviews, and collect documents. With lawsuits still ongoing about whether the funding cut was even allowed, many clients now have to wait even longer.
Organizations like the Literacy Network in Madison, Wisconsin 🇺🇸, have found it especially tough. Robin Ryan, the group’s executive director, said that the group was told the program “no longer fits the goals and priorities of the Department of Homeland Security.” This sudden change left the community upset and uncertain.
Many programs, some proudly growing for over a decade, have now shrunk back to much smaller sizes—if they remain open at all. These setbacks have taken away important support from people wanting to build better futures for themselves, their families, and the whole community.
Legal Pushback and Ongoing Lawsuit
The response to these cuts has not just been disappointment or sadness. Civil rights and immigration groups quickly took action, updating a lawsuit to try and restore the funding. Their central argument is clear:
- They say the Department of Homeland Security unfairly ended the whole grant program without a good legal reason.
- The lawsuit claims the administration is not spending funds that Congress specifically set aside to help people become U.S. citizens—something Congress has the constitutional authority to do.
- They argue that this refusal to use approved funds breaks the Constitution, violates the rules that separate government powers, and steps on the rights of the groups providing these services.
For those watching this lawsuit, it’s important to know some history. The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which began in 2009, was designed to help lawful permanent residents move forward toward citizenship. More than 350,000 green card holders have received help from this program over the years. Congress gave money for the program in both the 2023 and 2024 federal budgets, showing the program’s ongoing importance in lawmakers’ eyes.
But in 2025, the new pattern of federal funding cuts reached beyond these citizenship programs. In Pennsylvania 🇺🇸, a $1.2 billion freeze of federal funds to state agencies led Governor Josh Shapiro to start a separate lawsuit against the Trump Administration, saying the cuts broke the law and hurt the state’s ability to serve its people.
Why Citizenship Classes and Legal Support Matter
Without free citizenship classes and legal help, many green card holders face an uphill struggle. The path to U.S. citizenship may look simple on paper, but in reality, it comes with a long list of questions, tests, interviews, and paperwork. Mistakes or missed steps can delay the process or even lead to rejection.
Citizenship classes do more than just prepare people for a test. They help people understand what it means to be a U.S. citizen. These classes teach American history, laws, and the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship. For many, they also provide a place to ask questions and connect with others going through the same experience.
Legal services for citizenship are just as crucial. Official forms, such as Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, can be complex. A wrong answer or missing document can cause years of delay. Free legal screening and support mean people do not have to go through this alone or risk making a costly mistake.
When federal funding gets cut, these basic supports disappear. Immigrants may put off applying, or they may try to go ahead without help, which can lead to long-term problems or even failed applications. This not only affects the individual; it hurts families and whole communities that would have benefited from new citizens ready to fully participate in American 🇺🇸 life.
The Bigger Picture: What Does This Mean for the Future?
These funding cuts have sparked debates about who gets to decide how the federal government spends money. They have also raised questions about whether current immigration priorities match the promises made by Congress and previous presidents.
- For lawful permanent residents, the cuts mean losing a proven, helpful path to citizenship—the final step in fully joining their communities.
- For local organizations, the loss of funding means job cuts, canceled services, and uncertainty about whether they can keep doing their work.
- For broader American society, making the process harder might mean fewer new citizens, which could change local economies and weaken communities that have long depended on steady immigration.
Some see these decisions as part of a larger move to reduce the number of people becoming citizens each year. Others call for more investment in immigrant integration to make the country stronger, fairer, and more welcoming.
Many believe that helping people become citizens is good for the country as a whole. When lawful immigrants have the chance to apply for citizenship, they can vote, travel more easily, and often get better jobs. These benefits lift up families and neighborhoods, especially in places where immigrants are a central part of the community.
What Happens Next?
While the lawsuit over the funding cut goes forward, many are trying to find ways to fill the gap. Some nonprofits have turned to private donations, while others are asking their local governments for support. But the level of help they can give is much lower than before.
Anyone affected by these changes—whether you are a green card holder wanting to apply for citizenship, or part of an organization that once received federal grants—should watch for updates from the courts and Congress. It’s also a good idea to check the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center for official information and any opportunities that may arise.
As the story develops, one thing remains clear: free access to citizenship classes and legal help can make the difference between a confusing, lonely journey and one that ends in true belonging. Programs like those in Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 have proven their worth for years. Now, many hope that lawmakers and agencies will see the value of giving lawful permanent residents clear, affordable ways to become citizens.
Summary and the Path Forward
The recent federal funding cut to the Pennsylvania 🇺🇸 program that offered free citizenship classes and legal services is more than just a budget decision. For many immigrants and organizations, it has meant losing support at a critical time. This cut is part of ongoing trends that may shape the future of citizenship and integration in the United States 🇺🇸 for years to come.
With a lawsuit challenging the cuts moving through the courts, and with lawmakers debating what priorities to set, the outcome remains uncertain. For now, fewer people may get the help they need to become citizens. This affects not just individuals, but also families, neighborhoods, and the entire country.
If you or someone you know may be affected, it’s important to stay updated with official sources and reach out to any local organizations still able to help. The hope for many is that federal funding will return, bringing back the free citizenship classes and vital legal support that have already helped so many people take the final steps on their path to becoming Americans.
Learn Today
Lawful Permanent Resident → An individual legally authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S., commonly known as a green card holder.
Naturalization → The legal process for a non-citizen to become a U.S. citizen by meeting eligibility requirements and completing an application.
Citizenship & Integration Grant Program → A federal grant program launched in 2009 to support organizations offering citizenship education and legal help.
Form N-400 → The official application form used by lawful permanent residents to request U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) → A federal agency responsible for processing immigration and citizenship applications in the United States.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal funding cuts recently ended free citizenship classes and legal support in Pennsylvania, reflecting a larger national trend. Many green card holders now face significant barriers. Lawsuits challenge the cuts, which jeopardize community integration and access to citizenship. The future of such vital immigration programs across the U.S. remains uncertain.
— By VisaVerge.com
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