Your Vote, Our Hope

The time is NOW to become a citizen.

The November 7th elections gave new hope to many who are concerned about immigration reform. In Illinois, Latinos are becoming US citizens and registering to vote in record numbers. For the past two years LSNA has been helping people apply for citizenship through monthly workshops.

Earlier this month LSNA spent a morning at the Mozart Parent Library talking with parent volunteers who have joined the path towards citizenship. Lidia Garcia was eager to share her story. She became a US citizen through LSNA a few months ago and recently voted for the first time. “It felt very powerful to vote. I got to vote about the Iraq war and about raising the minimum wage,” said Ms. Garcia. She also sees the power of voting as a way of giving support towards the cause of immigrant rights, “the more of us who vote, the more our officials will see the need for reform.” Violeta Garcia, another Mozart parent who is in the final stages of citizenship added, “I will feel more secure now that I’m about to become a citizen,” a sentiment felt by many. Parent Lucila Rodriguez, who recently applied through LSNA at a St. Sylvester Parrish workshop, looks forward towards having the “right to choose legislators who support our needs as latinos.”

Join the Mozart parents, come talk to us at LSNA so that we can help you on your path towards citizenship. If you asked Lidia Garcia she would tell you the process was easy. “I came to a citizenship workshop, someone helped me fill out the application and a lawyer reviewed it.” Two months later she got an appointment to get her fingerprints and then another appointment for her interview where she was asked to name the first 13 states. Eight days after the interview Lidia went to the oath ceremony where she was given her official Certificate of Citizenship. Violeta, on the other hand, was asked to name the three branches of government and then to write down the sentence, “Many people came to America to find freedom.” “Then they said, ‘congratulations’ and gave me a letter stating I passed,” added Violeta with pride.

On average, the whole process from an LSNA workshop to oath ceremony takes between 4-6 months and it may become faster. Be aware that changes in the process are under way. The interview and test will likely change soon. Lucila encourages others to apply before the filling fee is raised to $800 or more. The time is NOW to become a US citizen. Your vote can be the hope for many.

For more information call Rufina Valladares at LSNA at 773 384-4370. Don’t let the $400 fee be an obstacle-come to our workshops with or without the $400-once you save it let us know and we’ll send out the application for you.

Lucila Rodriguez, Violeta Garcia and Lidia Garcia recently became citizens through LSNA.