Senator to Sponsor Bill on Woman’s Bid for Citizenship

A U.S. senator has agreed to sponsor a bill to grant citizenship to a disabled Anaheim woman whose application was denied because of an illness making it impossible for her to take the oath of allegiance.

A spokesman for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Monday the senator would introduce private legislation next week on behalf of 24-year-old Vijai Rajan.

“We are hopeful this will be a compelling case and we’ll be able to remedy this situation,” spokesman Howard Gantman said.

He also said the senator was working with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on joint public legislation. Hatch’s office did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

“After all these years, I’m beginning to believe it might really happen,” said Rajan’s father, Sunder Rajan, who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The lawsuit seeks a court order forcing the agency to make his daughter a citizen.

The INS would not comment on the matter, citing pending litigation.

Rajan, who was born in India, suffers from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, seizures and Crohn’s disease, a severe intestinal ailment. She uses a wheelchair and receives 24-hour care. She cannot understand, recite or raise her hand to take the oath.

Born when her mother was back visiting in India, Rajan has lived in the United States since she was a baby and has a green card. Her father became a naturalized citizen in 1980, her mother in 1994. Her older sister was born in the United States.

Rajan’s parents sought citizenship for their daughter in 1994, when she turned 18. Officials denied the application in 1998 and rejected an appeal the following year, citing “applicant’s inability to comprehend the oath of allegiance due to medical certified condition,” according to INS documents.

The private congressional bill is not a guarantee of citizenship for Rajan. It is a difficult process, which among other things requires a majority vote in committee.

But Feinstein has had success with difficult immigration cases. Last year, she successfully lobbied for permanent residency for a woman whose American husband was killed in an accident.