Become a US Citizen

You know how long it typically takes to apply and become a US citizen? Way too long! Our process is a deterrent to legally becoming a citizen!
Bet you do this too: When we prepare for a trip or vacation, we do extensive planning. We start weeks or even months in advance. When will we leave? How will we travel? What will the budget be? What are the main goals of the trip? When will we be back? And what special things do we need to accomplish to make this a smooth event?
Since falling for Kim, the two of us have lived in seven places. Each move required extensive planning. Our move from Connecticut to Florida when the four kids were very little took ages to orchestrate. Planning started well over a year before the day of the move. When we moved from West Palm Beach to Austin, Texas, it was another major move. Planning took a year before the move.
How does this relate to immigration and becoming a US citizen? Let’s take a glance.
* We have been dealing with immigration problems for decades. Millions are in the United States illegally.
* Birthrates are down in the US. A growing population insures stability. Picture how distorted life would become if the US population aged where there are more people trying to retire than there are people entering the workforce- unsustainable!
* A successful system to offer citizenship in a timely way could solve the entire mess. But, people are not geared to devote years to planning their move to the USA!
Imagine you are an oppressed citizen of another country, and you decide the only way to create a safe life for your family, filled with opportunity, would be to leave your country and immigrate to another. Add a sense of insecurity, or even fear you or your family might be harmed. Escaping could have life and death urgency!

I know you agree, USA is the best place to raise a family and have security and opportunity. In your research you read the English web sites (Government 10 Steps shown here) and discover that you must first become an LPR, or Lawful Permanent Resident. You are not an illegal alien, and you are not a citizen. You are taking the legal route to becoming a US citizen. There are a few exceptions, but you must be an LPR for five years. Then you can apply for citizenship. In another fifteen months, you could be taking the oath!
How do you become an LPR? You must apply and get a Green Card, allowing you to be an immigrant in the process of becoming a citizen. You are in the US legally! It typically takes two to five years to get that Green Card.
You look at your options, as you live in fear. You realize it could easily take ten years to obtain citizenship. It would take two to five years for that Green Card. How can you survive those years?
I refrain from offering my opinion for these articles. I don’t want to create conflict. But, I believe everyone would agree: we need a fast and efficient path to citizenship for qualified applicants!
If you lived in, say, a South American country gripped with crime and gang activity, would you wait for 10 years, or might you try something more creative””even possibly illegal?
Thoughts?