In the 1990s, federal welfare reform eliminated food stamps and disability payments for legal immigrants who had previously been covered. An estimated 11,000 Washingtonians lost disability payments, and about 38,000 lost access to food stamps. In response, many immigrants hurried to gain US citizenship in order to keep their benefits. In 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) office in Seattle reported swearing in 75 to 100 new citizens each day, up from about 20 daily in 1994.

This image shows Ssi Yun being sworn in as a US citizen. Yun was born in Korea and moved to the US in 1979. A recipient of food stamps and disability payments, Yun had wanted to become a US citizen since she moved, but did not apply until welfare reform forced her to do so or lose her benefits.

Caption information source: "Welfare reforms spur rush to become naturalized," by Arthur C. Gorlick, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 14, 1997, page A1.
Caption information source: "Corrections," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 15, 1997, page A2.