(June 7, 2006) Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined other Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and representatives from immigrant advocacy groups to announce the launch of National Citizenship Day, a national network of citizenship workshops to be held across the country on July 1, 2006.
The campaign will feature workshops led by Members of Congress and immigrant groups to provide comprehensive assistance to immigrants wishing to take their first steps toward naturalized U.S. citizenship. According to the Department of Homeland Security, eight million individuals are currently eligible for citizenship.
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Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) spoke at today's press conference as a Member of Congress and as a member of the Board of Directors of the NALEO Educational Fund, which is the nation's leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. In Los Angeles , the congresswoman urged l egal permanent residents to attend the July 1 citizenship workshop at the Los Angeles Convention Center (West Hall A) from 8-2 p.m.
"Throughout the year, the NALEO Educational Fund works nationwide to assist eligible permanent residents to apply for U.S. Citizenship, and NALEO is proud to participate in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' National Citizenship Day. For example, in Los Angeles, NALEO, in collaboration with the 'We Are America Coalition,' will join me and other Los Angeles area members of Congress on July 1 st for a citizenship workshop that we hope will be duplicated throughout the country. I encourage my colleagues and community-based organizations to participate in the July 1 National Day of Citizenship and help naturalize eligible legal permanent residents in their communities," said Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.
The NALEO Education Fund can be reached at 1-866-839-8682.
Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force, initiated this form of citizenship workshop during his first term in Congress. In 1994, the Congressman became the first elected official to receive authorization to help complete and submit immigration documentation.
"This new initiative will provide a meaningful and critical step toward U.S. citizenship for thousands of men, women and children across the country, so that they too can fully share in the rights that citizens enjoy and also help shoulder the responsibilities," said Rep. Gutierrez. "It will allow these men and women to better protect their families and to better advocate for the best interests of our immigrant community and our country."
Other local and national representatives in attendance included: Jaime Contreras, chair of both the National Capital Immigration Coalition and Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ-District 82; Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum; Jenny Arwade, vice president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and executive director of the Albany Park Neighborhood Council of Chicago; Cristina Lopez, deputy executive director and chief of staff of the Center for Community Change; and Cecilia Munoz, vice president of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation of the National Council of La Raza.
"Over the past several months, millions of people who want comprehensive immigration reform have spoken out in hundreds of cities," said Cristina Lopez of the Center for Community Change. "Our goal was to stop immoral and unworkable immigration reform from becoming law. While that fight is not over, we have begun to focus on building a new political paradigm and invigorating our democracy with millions of new voters. On July 1, many organizations will aim to bring eligible new voters into the democratic process and ensure that registered voters have the skills and information they need to activate their communities.
"We have marched and will continue to do so," said Jaime Contreras of the National Capital Immigration Coalition and SEIU Local 32BJ-District 82. "We have demonstrated our economic power and now it's time to show our voting power." The National Capital Immigration Coalition helped coordinate the recent local immigration events.
July 1 st workshops will be conducted in numerous cities across the nation, including the following:
Yuma, AZ
Los Angeles, Santa Elena, Napa, Salinas, Woodland, Los Banos, and Gilroy, CA
Washington, DC
Miami Shores, FL
Boise, ID
Bloomington, Ottawa, Aurora and Chicago, IL
Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island, NE
Morristown and Newark, NJ
New York, NY
Nashville, TN
El Paso, San Antonio and Houston, TX
Milwaukee, WI
Please note this list is not complete as other workshop sites will be added throughout the month.
For more information on how to apply for U.S. citizenship, please contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at 1-800-375-5283 or visit www.uscis.gov. For more information on how to plan a citizenship workshop in your area, please contact the CHC at 202-225-2410.