INS Denies Funding Agency Providing Citizenship Classes

Responding to a letter from five members of the Orange County congressional delegation, Immigration and Naturalization Service officials emphasized Friday that they do not subsidize Hermandad Mexicana Nacional or other community-based organizations that offer citizenship classes.

“We’re looking at the letter and we will be officially responding, but based on our research, it appears there is no money from INS to Hermandad,” said INS spokesman Russ Bergeron.

The letter, written by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and signed by Christopher Cox, Ron Packard, Ed Royce and Jay Kim, all Republicans, said: “We are requesting that you immediately discontinue further taxpayer subsidy of this organization.”

The letter also expressed concern that the INS is planning to withdraw two agents from Anaheim’s city jail because of a lack of funds, and suggested that the agency could save money by severing ties with Hermandad.

The letter refers to allegations that Hermandad registered clients to vote at its Santa Ana office before they became citizens. The secretary of state and Orange County district attorney are investigating the allegations, and seized documents and computers from the office Tuesday.

Bergeron pointed out that the INS has stopped conducting interviews at Hermandad’s Santa Ana offices pending state and local investigations of the allegations. Interviews at four other Hermandad locations in Southern California were also suspended, but the agency is reviewing their operations to see if improper voter registration took place there.

Interviews have resumed at Hermandad’s Perris office and may soon resume at Ontario, Los Angeles and North Hollywood.