Blumenthal Demands Reinstatement of Hartford Public Library Grant that Supports Citizenship Assistance & Classes

[Hartford, CT] – Today, in a new letter, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called on the  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to explain a recent decision by the Trump Administration to terminate a federal grant awarded to Hartford Public Library (HPL) that supports lawful permanent residents in earning their citizenship. HPL’s The American Place (TAP) offers citizenship classes and citizenship application assistance for lawful permanent residents in Connecticut.

Approximately 50 individuals were pursuing naturalization applications through HPL’s programmatic services at the time of the termination notice. As of 2023, when HPL applied for this grant, there were 26,636 adults eligible to naturalize within the state.

“In order to enroll in TAP’s services, individuals must present a valid lawful permanent resident card.  To date, TAP has already exceeded the minimum goals outlined under the terms of its financial assistance award, including but not limited to, number of lawful permanent residents receiving naturalization eligibility screening and number of Form N-400 applications prepared and submitted on behalf of lawful permanent residents,” wrote Blumenthal.

“DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly stated in regards to immigrants, ‘follow the law and you’ll find opportunity’ and that ‘America welcomes those who respect our laws. The lawful permanent residents using HPL’s TAP services are indeed such law-abiding individuals who seek the opportunity to become U.S. citizens and contribute to our nation,” continued Blumenthal. “Elimination of HPL’s already awarded funding strips individuals of such opportunity and robs the American people of the benefits those immigrants could bring.”

In the letter, Blumenthal demands clarification as to why HPL’s award no longer meets DHS priorities and reinstatement of the grant.

“For DHS to unilaterally cease such funding to HPL therefore raises questions as to violations of appropriations law. We seek specific clarification as to why HPL’s financial assistance award no longer meets the Department’s priorities and demand DHS reinstate the financial assistance award through the end of its term promptly, including any and all such applicable back payment,” concluded Blumenthal.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below. Video of Senator Blumenthal’s press conference with Hartford Public Library is available here.

Jacqueline Greely

Grants Officer

Grants and Financial Assistance Division (GFAD)

Department of Homeland Security

301 7th Street, SW, RM 3051

Mail Stop 0115

Washington, DC 20528

Dear Ms. Greely:

Hartford Public Library (HPL), located in Hartford, Connecticut, was originally granted a financial assistance award from DHS Grants and Financial Assistance Division on October 1, 2023, pursuant to their application for an award under the “FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS)” for a term period through September 30, 2025. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, HPL received, via email, a notification relaying that the financial assistance award had been terminated, pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(2), because the “scope of the work performed under [the] award no longer effectuates the program goals and the Department’s priorities.”

As outlined in their project narrative application materials, the financial assistance award was obtained to fund the programmatic services carried out through HPL’s The American Place (TAP) Division. Pursuant to the financial assistance award, TAP offers citizenship classes and citizenship application assistance for lawful permanent residents in the state of Connecticut. As of 2023, when HPL applied for this grant, there were 26,636 adults eligible to naturalize within the state. In order to enroll in TAP’s services, individuals must present a valid lawful permanent resident card.

To date, TAP has already exceeded the minimum goals outlined under the terms of its financial assistance award, including but not limited to, number of lawful permanent residents receiving naturalization eligibility screening and number of Form N-400 applications prepared and submitted on behalf of lawful permanent residents. As of March 27, 2025, when HPL received its termination notice, approximately 50 individuals were pursuing naturalization applications through HPL’s programmatic services.

It is unclear as to how citizenship classes and applications are in conflict with “program goals and the Department’s priorities.” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly stated in regards to immigrants, “follow the law and you’ll find opportunity” and that “America welcomes those who respect our laws.”1 The lawful permanent residents using HPL’s TAP services are indeed such law-abiding individuals who seek the opportunity to become U.S. citizens and contribute to our nation. Elimination of HPL’s already awarded funding strips individuals of such opportunity and robs the American people of the benefits those immigrants could bring.

In addition to the aforementioned, Congress specifically created this grant program and has appropriated funds to “provide technical and consultative support to organizations as they assist the immigrant community with their benefit applications.”2 HPL, in providing services through TAP, is thus executing on the very clear intent of Congress. For DHS to unilaterally cease such funding to HPL therefore raises questions as to violations of appropriations law.

I seek specific clarification as to why HPL’s financial assistance award no longer meets the Department’s priorities and demand DHS reinstate the financial assistance award through the end of its term promptly, including any and all such applicable back payment.

Sincerely,

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