Courtesy of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Immigrants throughout Illinois are showing their civic enthusiasm this Citizenship Day, Monday, September 17, by taking advantage of citizenship services provided by the New Americans Initiative, a project of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). In a key midterm cycle and during a time of unprecedented anti-immigrant rhetoric, immigrants understand more than ever the importance of becoming citizens and voting to elect candidates that support their issues. Immigrant communities are the fastest growing electoral group in the U.S., with 8.8 million green card holders eligible for U.S. citizenship across the country, including 370,000 in Illinois with another 100,000 soon to be eligible. Already motivated to participate in the civic life of their new adopted home, Illinois immigrants continue to seek citizenship services in large numbers. In partnership with IDHS, ICIRR’s New Americans Initiative (NAI) collaborates with 60 community based organizations statewide to provide free legal assistance to immigrants throughout Illinois seeking to apply for citizenship. During the last 13 years over 525,000 people have received citizenship services and over 125,000 have become US citizens as a result of this pioneering program. From now until election day in November, NAI partner organizations will host over 20 citizenship workshops statewide, where eligible immigrants can apply for citizenship on the spot. These workshops provide free legal services and help low-income, limited English proficient Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) apply for fee waivers if they qualify. Visit www.icirr.org/events to see the full list of upcoming workshops.