MIAMI — South Florida community organizations aim to provide free assistance for 1,000 immigrants who want to naturalize at a Citizenship Mega Workshop on Saturday, June 22 at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Building 3.
In addition, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will hold a Naturalization Oath Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in Building 1 for 60 South Floridians who are becoming Florida New Americans.
Mayor Thomas Regalado has proclaimed Saturday the City of Miami’s Citizenship Day.
As immigration reform is debated in Washington, the South Florida Congressional Delegation has worked across party lines to support this Citizenship Mega Workshop that would benefit many constituents. Rep. Frederica Wilson and Rep. Joe Garcia have confirmed attendance, and Senator Marco Rubio’s office will have representatives present during the event.
“Figures released Tuesday from the Congressional Budget Office show that integrating immigrants into the U.S. economy through immigration reform could result in significant deficit reduction,” Krystina François, Florida New Americans program manager, said. “Likewise, naturalization drives and efforts to help legal permanent residents become ‘New American’ citizens are crucial to ensuring the economic health of Miami, the sunshine state and Florida’s families.”
Events that provide legal assistance to legal permanent residents who are seeking to naturalize are extremely important as well, since less than 10% of those eligible actually apply*. Many immigrants face barriers to applying for citizenship, such as inability to afford the $680 application fee plus the cost of a private lawyer, limited English language proficiency and lack of knowledge about the process.
Eligible applicants will not only receive free legal assistance at the workshop, but those who meet federal poverty guidelines will also be able to complete a form to waive the application fee.
In addition, bilingual volunteers will assist with translation during the workshop. Applicants will also be able to register for citizenship classes and receive study materials for US civics and history.
Organizations leading the Citizenship Mega Workshop are members of the New Americans Campaign, a national campaign to increase awareness around naturalization and barriers to citizenship. Miami Partners include the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), Hispanic Unity, Read2Succeed, Florida International University-School of Law Clinic, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) and its Florida New Americans (FNA) program, Center for Immigrant Advancement (CIMA), the Miami-Dade Public Schools (MDCPS) ESOL Program, and the Bethlehem Project. This event is also supported by the National Partnership for New Americans, the Cuban American Bar Association, Haitian Lawyers Association and others.
To register and find a full list of required materials, log onto www.citizenshipflorida.org and www.flnewamericans.org
