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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Belle Woods, AILA, bwoods@aila.org, 202-507-7675
Maria Yuquilima, Citizenshipworks, maria@justicialab.org, 260-479-0833
Melissa Stek, NPNA, melissa@masadc.com, (616) 550-8039
Luis Acosta, NALEO Educational Fund, (956) 460-3598
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), and Citizenshipworks (a project of Pro Bono Net’s Justicia Lab) are proud to partner for AILA Citizenship Day events, taking place in-person and virtually, throughout the country this month in support of increased naturalization. AILA’s Citizenship Day efforts bring together attorneys, affiliates, law students, paralegals, interpreters, and community members to assist lawful permanent residents (also known as LPRs or “Green Card holders”) in becoming naturalized U.S. citizens.
While events will take place nationwide throughout the month of September, NALEO Educational Fund and Telemundo will, once again, lead the remote opportunity on September 16th to screen callers—and those who text in—to check their eligibility for U.S. naturalization, answer questions about the application process, and help sign them up for in-person or virtual events in their communities. With pro bono guidance and expertise from volunteer immigration attorneys, AILA Citizenship Day aims to assist qualified residents in taking the necessary steps to becoming U.S. citizens.
AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson stated, “The AILA Citizenship Day effort has evolved over the years into a series of events and clinics throughout the country and virtually which offer a chance to help qualified applicants take those last few steps toward the safety and security of U.S. citizenship. Becoming a citizen is a process that takes time and expertise; having an immigration lawyer working with you can make those last steps to citizenship much easier. We are so grateful to our partner organizations, and our member volunteers, who come together throughout this month. Helping others establish themselves as citizens, and feel that sense of true belonging, heartens everyone involved, and strengthens our nation.”
“The benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen are endless,” said NALEO Educational Fund CEO Arturo Vargas. “With the right to vote, the ability to travel with a U.S. passport, and even increased employment opportunities, lawful permanent residents who have contributed to the country’s economy and made America their home should consider starting the process of becoming U.S. citizens if they are eligible. NALEO Educational Fund is proud to partner in this year’s AILA Citizenship Day and is committed to providing free guidance and resources all year long through our toll-free, national bilingual Citizenship Hotline (1-888-839-8682) — open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET.”
“Obtaining citizenship shouldn’t be costly or difficult. With Citizenshipworks’ online application form, applying for naturalization is now safe and simple. We are proud to partner with AILA, NALEO, and NPNA to make this year’s Citizenship Day a success and to bring the benefits of citizenship to more new Americans,” said Rodrigo Camarena, Director of Justicia Lab.
“With more than 9.2 million Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) nationwide that currently qualify for U.S. citizenship, and building on the momentum of record breaking naturalizations in 2022, we are excited to celebrate this year’s Citizenship Day by bringing even more resources and partnerships together to equip communities across the nation to pursue naturalization,” said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). “The urgency of growing our democracy and the burden the USCIS fee increases coming next year show us why it is so important to naturalize now. In addition to NPNA’s Cities & Counties for Citizenship (CC4C) efforts and Naturalize NOW! campaign partnerships and Citizenship Day events, we are proud to join the AILA Citizenship Day effort to ensure all eligible immigrants and refugees can realize their dreams of becoming U.S. citizens.”
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 66 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 40 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
Citizenshipworks is a project of Pro Bono Net’s Justicia Lab, a nonprofit incubator of immigrant legal technology. Citizenshipworks (www.citizenshipworks.org), is a groundbreaking online naturalization platform that has transformed applying for U.S. Citizenship assistance by making it easy for anyone to go online, screen for eligibility, complete their forms, and connect to virtual or in-person legal assistance.
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