Free Help for WA's Would-Be Americans
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April 13, 2009
Seattle – More than 170,000 Washington residents live in the state legally but are not United States citizens. Only a handful of them go through the rigorous process of applying for citizenship, because it is costly and can take years. Several organizations (OneAmerica, the American Immigration Lawyers Assn., and the State of Washington's "New Americans" program) have teamed up to sponsor free workshops to answer naturalization questions and help would-be citizens with their paperwork.
On Saturday, April 18, the second round of "Citizenship Days" workshops will be held. In Centralia, Tukwila, Wenatchee and Yakima, attorneys, interpreters and other volunteers will offer free advice to immigrants. On May 30, workshops will be held in Lacey, Mount Vernon, the Tri-Cities and Vancouver.
Hanne Makhani, program coordinator for Seattle-based OneAmerica, says what often stops a person from becoming a U.S. citizen is the cost. The application filing fee alone is almost $700, she explains, and the process is so lengthy and technical that many people end up paying lawyers to help them.
"In 2007, there were 170,000 legal permanent residents in Washington who were eligible to be naturalized - to be U.S. citizens. Just 14,600 became citizens in Washington. So, there's a huge need."
This is the third year for "Citizenship Days." The concept was developed in Washington, Makhani says, and now 25 states have adopted it. Makhani says people who undertake the long and complicated citizenship process believe it's worth the wait - for better job opportunities, safety from deportation and the right to vote. She expects a good turnout at the workshops.
"Last year, people were really, really excited about the possibility of voting for a new president, and I think that has carried over to this year. People have seen the impact that immigrants can have on an election, and they want to participate that way."
A recent Associated Press (AP) investigation notes another, more somber reason for seeking citizenship - that, in its zeal to crack down on illegal immigration, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers also have detained hundreds of legal U.S. residents. It is illegal to detain or deport someone for an immigration violation, but the AP probe found the system is overloaded as detention numbers continue to rise. As a result, immigrants who have few resources may be jailed, some for days and others for years. ICE's director of detention and removal, Jim Hayes, said he is aware of only a few such cases.
All Citizenship Day workshop locations are listed online at www.wanewamericans.org. Information is also available by calling 1-877-926-3924.