Durbin Discusses Citizenship and DACA Loan Programs at Second Federal Credit Union

Statement

With an estimated 370,000 lawful permanent residents in Illinois eligible to naturalize but who have yet to do so, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited Second Federal Credit Union's Brighton Park location to discuss the citizenship loans the institution has started to offer. The citizenship fee, now $680, has nearly tripled since 1999 and has become one of the main deterrents to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) taking the final step to become U.S. citizens.

"Too many immigrants today are on track to become U.S. citizens, but face financial obstacles during the final stage of the naturalization process. Most don't know that there are now low-interest loans available to help get over these economic barriers," Durbin said. "These new loans are a safer alternative to the payday loans available through the predatory lenders that are all too common in Chicago's low-income communities."

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