Celebrate Citizenship Day: Unleashing the Power of Naturalization 

on in Immigration

As Citizenship Day approaches on September 17, we celebrate the eligible permanent residents who have chosen to make the United States their home and taken the transformative step of becoming U.S. citizens. Beyond the personal benefits, citizenship also strengthens the country by fostering civic involvement, driving economic development and bolstering a shared sense of community.  

By Gary Sang, Immigrant Integration Program Manager 

We also recognize recent progress in making naturalization more accessible and affordable. Demonstrating good government efficiency, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has reduced the citizenship application backlog and brought processing times downi. USCIS has expanded eligibility for fee waivers and reduced fees, allowing more eligible immigrants to afford citizenship. In the new fee schedule that went into effect on April 1, 2024, USCIS expanded eligibility for the reduced application fee of $380 for applicants with a household income between 150%-400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. USCIS codified the full fee waiver for applicants whose household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline or experiencing financial hardship. According to a report, about 71% of eligible permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship now qualify for a reduced fee or fee waiverii.  We commend the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to reduce backlogs, improve processing times and support community-based naturalization programs like the USCIS Citizenship and Integration (C&I) Grant Program. However, we continue to advocate for a more streamlined process, including the option of filing applications online with fee waivers and fee reductions and increased funding of $100 million for the C&I Grant Program. 

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We saw earlier this year the work of public servants at USCIS when UnidosUS partnered with USCIS, the U.S. District Court of the District of Nevada, and the Clark County Government to host a naturalization ceremony. At this special event, we celebrated and welcomed 30 newly naturalized U.S. citizens. UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía shared heartfelt remarks reflecting on her own family’s immigration journey and history, highlighting the profound opportunities that lie ahead for these new citizens. This powerful moment underscored the importance of naturalization and the deep sense of belonging and community it fosters. 

During our Annual Conference, we also hosted a workshop emphasizing the transformative power of naturalization and the crucial roles various stakeholders play in promoting citizenship. For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is more than a change in status—it unlocks new opportunities, such as the right to vote, increased freedom to travel, protection from deportation and greater economic stability. We showcased the progress made by USCIS in making the citizenship application process more accessible, the vital role community-based organizations play in assisting applicants and the importance of fostering civic engagement. Currently, about 10.3 million lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are likely eligible to naturalize, yet only a small percentage do so each year.iii Reflecting on Citizenship Day, we are reminded of the urgency to support more eligible immigrants in their journey to citizenship. 

Resources for the Path to Citizenship  

In the spirit of Citizenship Day, we remain committed to sharing resources that assist eligible lawful permanent residents navigate the naturalization process. These tools are essential for anyone looking to understand the steps, eligibility, legal assistance and benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen: 

Understanding the Process and Requirements for Applying for Citizenship 

Finding Assistance for the Naturalization Process 

  • National Literacy Directory — Lists organizations that offer ESL and citizenship preparation classes to help applicants prepare for the naturalization process.  
  • ImmigrationLawHelp — A directory of nonprofit immigration legal services providers that offer support for the naturalization process.
  • The New Americans Campaign (NAC) Directory — A network of nonprofit organizations providing local citizenship assistance services. 

Understanding the Benefits of U.S. Citizenship 

  • 10 Benefits of U.S. Citizenship — Highlights key rights and benefits, including protection from deportation, the right to vote and the ability to petition for certain family members. 

Data on the Eligible-to-Naturalize Population 

  • USCIS Eligible to Naturalize Dashboard — Provides data on lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization. 
  • Naturalize Now: Economic Equity and the Path to Naturalization — A policy brief by the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and USC Dornsife Equity Research Institute that explores the impact of the new USCIS naturalization fee structure effective April 1, 2024. This structure allows 71% of the eligible-to-naturalize population in the U.S. to qualify for a reduced fee of $380 or a full fee waiver, significantly enhancing citizenship access for lower-income immigrants, particularly in states like California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois. 

Inspiring Continued Action Beyond Citizenship Day 

As we celebrate Citizenship Day, we are reminded of the profound effects of naturalization on individuals and communities. The stories of those who have become U.S. citizens and the positive contributions they have made to their communities highlight the transformative power of naturalization. Now, more than ever, we must continue to encourage and support eligible lawful permanent residents on their journey to citizenship. 

 

i Miriam Jordan, Immigrant Applications for U.S. Citizenship Surge as Election Approaches, N.Y. Times (Aug. 12, 2024), https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/12/us/immigration-us-citizenship-rates.html. 

ii Ramya Reddy, Manuel Pastor, Justin Scoggins & Thai V. Le, Naturalize Now: Economic Equity and the Path to Naturalization, USC Dornsife Equity Research Institute (Apr. 2024), https://dornsife.usc.edu/eri/publications/naturalize-now-economic-equity-and-the-path-to-naturalization/ 

iii The current data from USCIS indicates approximately 10,373,978 lawful permanent residents are eligible to naturalization. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Eligible to Naturalize Dashboard, USCIS, https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data/eligible-to-naturalize-dashboard  (last visited Sept. 12, 2024).  

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