Statement from Commissioner Bitta Mostofi on Introduction of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs


Press Release


Statement from Commissioner Bitta Mostofi on Introduction of U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

For Immediate Release: February 18, 2021

In response to U.S. Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) unveiling the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, issued the following statement.

The bill would create a pathway to citizenship for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, most of whom have been long-standing, essential members of our communities. The bill also places a strong emphasis on the integration of immigrants through increasing access to citizenship, strengthening labor protections, addressing naturalization and other backlogs, expanding access to counsel, providing grants for legal services, expanding caps on immigration, and other important steps on immigration action.

“As the ultimate city of immigrants, New York City has always known that immigrants are essential. The U.S. Citizenship Act is the bold action we need to rebuild an immigration system that is consistent with our values. It's also essential to meet the needs of our communities, keep families together, and ensure an equitable pandemic recovery. We applaud the Biden administration for taking this crucial step and urge Congress to expeditiously pass the U.S. Citizenship Act to bring long overdue relief to our immigrant families and communities.

As we celebrate the introduction of the U.S Citizenship Act, we also urge New Yorkers to beware of scams. There has not yet been any change in law, which means there is no new visa or application to fill out. To connect with City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help, New Yorkers can call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To report immigration fraud, call the New York State Office for New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636.”

Learn more about how you can avoid being a victim of immigration fraud in:
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