Key Takeaways
• Literacy Network lost $74,000 in federal CINAS funding for its citizenship program in January 2025.
• The program served 175 immigrants since October 2023; 15 became citizens in early 2025.
• Cut funding threatens free English, civics, and legal help for low-income, lawful permanent residents.
The Literacy Network, a well-known nonprofit group in Madison, Wisconsin, has helped many lawful permanent residents become citizens of the United States 🇺🇸 for more than a decade. Recently, though, this important work faced a sudden challenge when the group was told it would not receive the rest of its federal grant money for its citizenship program. The news left many students, staff, and supporters of the organization worried about what this will mean for immigrants who want to become citizens.
This article looks at what happened with the Literacy Network’s funding, what the group’s citizenship program does, how the cut will affect students and the community, and what could come next as the program works to keep helping those who dream of becoming U.S. citizens.
A Long History of Helping New Americans
The Literacy Network has been supporting immigrants in Dane County and surrounding areas since 1974. One of its most important efforts is its citizenship program, which offers free English classes, lessons on U.S. history, and help with paperwork for people who want to become U.S. citizens. The goal is to make the difficult naturalization process easier, especially for people with low incomes.
In 2009, the Literacy Network started to receive money from the Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Applications Services (CINAS) grant. This federal grant, managed by the Department of Homeland Security, is designed to help lawful permanent residents, often called “green card holders,” as they study and apply for citizenship.
Over the years, this funding has let the Literacy Network reach hundreds of people, giving them the tools and skills they need to pass English and civics tests and understand life in the United States 🇺🇸.
The Details of the Grant Cut
In January 2025, the Literacy Network was given the first part of its $90,000 grant for that year. Staff believed they would receive the remainder—$74,000—in the coming months, just as they had in past years. But things changed quickly when, later that month, the Department of Homeland Security notified the group that it would not be receiving the remaining funds.
A DHS statement explained the reason for this sudden change in support: according to the department, the program “no longer aligns with its goals and priorities.” No further details were given about what goals or priorities had shifted.
Robin Ryan, the Literacy Network’s executive director, said she thought this move was “shortsighted.” She pointed out that the program directly helps legal immigrants who are already living and working in the United States 🇺🇸. Ryan believes that cutting off funding could make it harder for these individuals to become citizens, which can affect their families and their futures.
What the Literacy Network’s Citizenship Program Offers
What made the Literacy Network’s citizenship program so valuable to immigrants in Dane County? The answer lies in the range of support it provided, all entirely free of charge for those taking part:
- English language classes: Many immigrants need to improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English to pass the naturalization exam and take part in American life.
- U.S. history and civics education: The citizenship test asks questions about American history, government, and culture. The classes make these topics clear and easy to understand for everyone, no matter their education level.
- Help with legal paperwork: Applying for citizenship involves a lot of confusing forms. The Literacy Network helped students fill out complicated government paperwork correctly and understand every step of the process.
Classes were made available to adults from diverse backgrounds, jobs, and levels of previous schooling. Many who joined had limited incomes and little access to other services, so the chance to learn at the Literacy Network was often their most realistic path to citizenship.
The Impact: By the Numbers
The effects of the program’s work can be seen in recent numbers:
- Between October 2023 and March 2025, the Literacy Network served 175 people through its citizenship preparation courses.
- In the early part of 2025, 15 students completed the process and officially became U.S. citizens.
- Even at the time of the funding announcement, more than 50 people were still enrolled in classes, actively working toward their dream of citizenship.
These numbers show just how many immigrants rely on the program each year and shine a light on how this change will leave dozens of students with less support.
How the Loss of Funding Will Challenge the Program
With the rest of its CINAS grant now denied, the Literacy Network faces an immediate money problem. That funding made up a big part of what kept its free citizenship program running. Without it, the organization will struggle to pay for instructors, supplies, and other costs.
Robin Ryan has been open about just how tough this could make things in the months ahead. She worries that fewer classes will mean longer waiting lists for students, larger class sizes, and maybe even turning away some people who need help most.
According to Ryan, “People need these programs to be successful and to be able to support their families. To have that taken away, especially from adults who are working hard, is shortsighted. These are people who want to be citizens, who want to be a part of this community.”
An Important Resource in Dane County
For years, local leaders and immigrant support groups have praised the Literacy Network’s citizenship program not only for its classes, but for making the whole immigration process less scary for thousands of newcomers. Community members often point out that many people cannot afford private tutoring or legal advice, so free resources like this can make all the difference.
Students who attend the program often share stories of greater confidence, steady jobs, and children who do better in school after their parents improve their English and earn citizenship. When parents become U.S. citizens, they commonly feel more connected to life in the United States 🇺🇸 and more able to join in important public events like voting or serving on juries.
Fundraising and the Path Forward
With federal support now gone, the Literacy Network has launched a new effort to keep its citizenship program alive through local donations. The group is reaching out to supporters across Dane County and beyond, as well as approaching private foundations, asking them to help fill the funding gap.
“We are determined not to let this setback stop us from helping our students,” Ryan shared in a recent interview. She said the Literacy Network will continue its classes and legal support “for as long as we possibly can” and is hopeful that community partners will step up.
The organization is also asking those who have already earned citizenship through the program to share their stories and help spread the word about its impact. Ryan and other staff members believe that in today’s political world, it is important for neighbors to see how much legal immigrants benefit from programs like theirs.
The Bigger Picture: Changes in National Policy
This decision by the Department of Homeland Security comes at a time when the landscape of support for immigrants across the United States 🇺🇸 is changing. For many years, federal and state programs have funded immigrant education and citizenship help, sometimes supporting dozens of local nonprofits like the Literacy Network. But in recent years, policymakers have shifted gears on where and how public money is spent for these community programs.
Some argue that limited government funds should be directed elsewhere, perhaps toward border security, different types of legal services, or technology improvements. Others, including education and advocacy groups, warn that cutting support for citizenship programs hurts those who are already on the right track—legal immigrants who want to follow all steps to become full citizens and join in civic life.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that the end of grants like CINAS can create deeper divisions between those who want to become citizens and organizations built to help them. When trusted programs vanish, many immigrants are left to rely on expensive private help or online resources, which may not always be accurate or provide the level of support needed.
Why Citizenship Education Matters
The road to U.S. citizenship is not an easy one. Becoming a citizen means passing tests in English and U.S. history, completing a long list of forms (including the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400), paying hundreds of dollars in fees, and sometimes waiting months—or even years—for an interview.
For adults who may not have had much formal schooling, or who work long hours, the barriers can feel very high. That’s where the Literacy Network’s approach is especially helpful: staff members break down lessons into simple, easy-to-understand pieces, guiding students through each step and celebrating their progress. Without programs like these, the path to naturalization can seem impossible for some.
Organizations across the country regularly point to the Literacy Network’s successes as a model. Reports show that students who finish such programs have much higher rates of passing the citizenship test than those who try to do everything on their own.
What This Means for Immigrant Families
For families working toward a better life in the United States 🇺🇸, the stakes could hardly be higher. Citizenship offers real benefits, including:
- Protection from deportation
- The right to vote in federal, state, and local elections
- The ability to sponsor family members for legal immigration
- More job and financial aid opportunities
- Full participation in civic life
For those enrolled in the Literacy Network’s citizenship program, the loss of funding could delay or derail these life-changing opportunities. Parents and grandparents who dream of voting for the first time, or who want to travel more freely to visit their families overseas, now face new hurdles.
Community Response and Calls to Action
In the days since the announcement, Literacy Network has seen an outpouring of concern and support from local residents, community groups, and former students. Many have voiced frustration at the federal government’s decision, asking whether other deserving programs might soon face the same trouble.
Some Dane County leaders have already pledged to speak up at city council meetings or organize local fundraisers. There has also been talk of contacting elected officials to ask whether the Department of Homeland Security could reconsider its criteria for these kinds of grants.
For those interested in supporting, information about the citizenship program and ways to help can be found on the Literacy Network’s official website. Those wanting to learn more about naturalization and the role of federal grants can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Citizenship Resource Center, which offers helpful guides and information for immigrants and program leaders alike.
Looking Ahead
The ending of federal funding for the Literacy Network’s citizenship program marks a turning point for legal immigrants and service groups in Madison and perhaps for similar programs nationwide. As the organization looks for new supporters, its story shines a light on the continuing need for affordable, culturally sensitive help for people who want to become citizens of the United States 🇺🇸.
Whether or not community donations can fill the gap left by the grant is still unknown. What is clear is that many legal immigrants in Dane County, especially those with fewer resources, may face more challenges in taking their final steps toward citizenship.
The Literacy Network’s situation is a reminder of how changes in government priorities can touch lives in every neighborhood. For many, the hope remains that—with enough support from local groups, donors, and former students—the group can continue welcoming, teaching, and celebrating new Americans for years to come.
As the broader story of immigration policy in the United States 🇺🇸 continues to unfold, the Literacy Network’s experience shows how decisions from the Department of Homeland Security can have deep effects right at the community level—affecting the dreams and futures of neighbors who call this country home.
Learn Today
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) → A non-citizen authorized to live and work permanently in the United States with a green card.
Naturalization → The legal process by which a lawful permanent resident becomes a citizen of the United States.
Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Applications Services (CINAS) grant → A federal grant managed by the Department of Homeland Security to help LPRs prepare for U.S. citizenship.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) → A U.S. government agency responsible for immigration, national security, and administering grants like CINAS.
Naturalization Exam → A test that applicants must pass to become U.S. citizens, including English language and civics questions.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Literacy Network’s citizenship program in Madison faces a crisis after losing federal funding. This program, essential for low-income immigrants preparing for citizenship, served 175 people since 2023. The loss of $74,000 threatens free English, civics classes, and legal support, forcing staff to seek new local donations immediately.
— By VisaVerge.com
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