Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act
PL 110-251 (S.2516), enacted 06/26/2008

122 STAT. 2319 
PUBLIC LAW 110–251—JUNE 26, 2008 
Public Law 110–251 
110th Congress 
An Act 
To assist members of the Armed Forces in obtaining United States citizenship, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Kendell Frederick Citizenship 
Assistance Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINGERPRINTS AND OTHER BIOMETRIC INFORMATION FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
including section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
referred to as the ‘‘Privacy Act of 1974’’), the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall use the fingerprints provided by an individual at 
the time the individual enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, 
or at the time the individual filed an application for adjustment 
of status, to satisfy any requirement for background and security 
checks in connection with an application for naturalization if— 
(1) the individual may be naturalized pursuant to section 
328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1439, 1440); 
(2) the individual was fingerprinted and provided other 
biometric information in accordance with the requirements of 
the Department of Defense at the time the individual enlisted 
in the United States Armed Forces; 
(3) the individual— 
(A) submitted an application for naturalization not 
later than 24 months after the date on which the individual 
enlisted in the United States Armed Forces; or 
(B) provided the required biometric information to the 
Department of Homeland Security through a United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services Application Support 
Center at the time of the individual’s application for adjust-
ment of status if filed not later than 24 months after 
the date on which the individual enlisted in the United 
States Armed Forces; and 
(4) the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that 
the biometric information provided, including fingerprints, is 
sufficient to conduct the required background and security 
checks needed for the applicant’s naturalization application. 
(b) MORE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE ADJUDICATION.—Nothing in 
this section precludes an individual described in subsection (a) 
from submitting a new set of biometric information, including 
8 USC 1440f. 
Kendell 
Frederick 
Citizenship 
Assistance Act. 
8 USC 1101 note. 
June 26, 2008 
[S. 2516] 
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122 STAT. 2320 
PUBLIC LAW 110–251—JUNE 26, 2008 
fingerprints, to the Secretary of Homeland Security with an applica-
tion for naturalization. If the Secretary determines that submitting 
a new set of biometric information, including fingerprints, would 
result in more timely and effective adjudication of the individual’s 
naturalization application, the Secretary shall— 
(1) inform the individual of such determination; and 
(2) provide the individual with a description of how to 
submit such biometric information, including fingerprints. 
(c) COOPERATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall determine the format 
of biometric information, including fingerprints, acceptable for usage 
under subsection (a). The Secretary of Defense, or any other official 
having custody of the biometric information, including fingerprints, 
referred to in subsection (a), shall— 
(1) make such prints available, without charge, to the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security for the purpose described in sub-
section (a); and 
(2) otherwise cooperate with the Secretary of Homeland 
Security to facilitate the processing of applications for natu-
ralization under subsection (a). 
(d) ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and 
the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, implement 
procedures that will ensure the rapid electronic transmission of 
biometric information, including fingerprints, from existing reposi-
tories of such information needed for military personnel applying 
for naturalization as described in subsection (a) and that will safe-
guard privacy and civil liberties. 
(e) CENTRALIZATION AND EXPEDITED PROCESSING.— 
(1) CENTRALIZATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall centralize the data processing of all applications for natu-
ralization filed by members of the United States Armed Forces 
on active duty serving abroad. 
(2) EXPEDITED PROCESSING.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
and the Director of National Intelligence shall take appropriate 
actions to ensure that applications for naturalization by mem-
bers of the United States Armed Forces described in paragraph 
(1), and associated background checks, receive expedited proc-
essing and are adjudicated within 180 days of the receipt of 
responses to all background checks. 
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON MILITARY NATURALIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the effective 
date of any modification to a regulation related to naturalization 
under section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1439, 1440), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
make appropriate updates to the Internet sites maintained by the 
Secretary to reflect such modification. 
(b) SENSE
OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, not later than 180 days after 
each effective date described in subsection (a), should make nec-
essary updates to the appropriate application forms of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 4. REPORTS. 
(a) ADJUDICATION PROCESS.— 
Deadline. 
Web site. 
8 USC 1440g. 
Deadline. 
Deadline. 
Procedures. 
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122 STAT. 2321 
PUBLIC LAW 110–251—JUNE 26, 2008 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
committees on the entire process for the adjudication of an 
application for naturalization filed pursuant to section 328 or 
329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439, 
1440), including the process that— 
(A) begins at the time the application is mailed to, 
or received by, the Secretary, regardless of whether the 
Secretary determines that such application is complete; 
and 
(B) ends on the date of the final disposition of such 
application. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
shall include a description of— 
(A) the methods used by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security and the Secretary of Defense to prepare, handle, 
and adjudicate such applications; 
(B) the effectiveness of the chain of authority, super-
vision, and training of employees of the Federal Govern-
ment or of other entities, including contract employees, 
who have any role in such process or adjudication; and 
(C) the ability of the Secretary of Homeland Security 
and the Secretary of Defense to use technology to facilitate 
or accomplish any aspect of such process or adjudication 
and to safeguard privacy and civil liberties. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States 
and the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall conduct a study on the implementation of this 
Act by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary 
of Defense, including an assessment of any technology that 
may be used to improve the efficiency of the naturalization 
process for members of the United States Armed Forces and 
an assessment of the impact of this Act on privacy and civil 
liberties. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date on 
which the Secretary of Homeland Security submits the report 
required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General and 
the Inspector General shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees on the study required by paragraph 
(1) 
that 
includes 
recommendations 
for 
improving 
the 
implementation of this Act. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; 
(2) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; 
(3) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; 
(4) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives; 
(5) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives; and 
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122 STAT. 2322 
PUBLIC LAW 110–251—JUNE 26, 2008 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2516 (H.R. 2884): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110–429 accompanying H.R. 2884 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008): 
Mar. 11, considered and passed Senate. 
June 9, considered and passed House. 
(6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
Approved June 26, 2008. 
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