Citizenship Day puts naturalization in reach
MOSES LAKE - Hundreds of legal permanent residents living in the Basin are a little closer to citizenship thanks to the Washington New Americans' Citizenship Day event.
A group of volunteer immigration attorneys, paralegals and interpreters were in Moses Lake Saturday to help permanent residents ("green card" holders) navigate the U.S. citizenship process. They provided services such as citizenship application assistance and legal review of applications and gave general information about the naturalization process.
Citizenship Day was created in Washington in 2004 by the state chapter of the American Lawyers Association and has been replicated in more than 30 states. The association partners with Washington New Americans to host the event in state at no cost to participants.
Washington New Americans is a joint effort between OneAmerica, a non-profit dedicated to advancing justice and equality, and the State of Washington. Their goal is to connect eligible legal permanent residents to the information and services they need to successfully pursue citizenship.
The Moses Lake workshop was one of four in the state this year. Citizenship Day also took place simultaneously in Renton, Pasco and Olympia. Workshops have also been held in virtually all parts of the state over the years, including Spokane, Yakima, Wenatchee, Tacoma, Bellingham and Walla Walla.
Washington New Americans volunteer Ellicott Dandy said they serve anywhere from 400 to 500 people at each event each year.
According to the organization, there are an estimated 180,000 "green card" holders in Washington eligible to become citizens, but haven't done so due to various barriers.
Dandy said that fact is why Washington New Americans believes it is so vital to host Citizenship Day workshops.
"Citizenship is so important, it gives you the opportunity to vote, to bring your family over and makes you eligible for government jobs and other benefits," she said. "Citizenship also just solidifies a status that many permanent residents already feel."
Dandy said many legal residents find the citizenship process intimidating.
"It's difficult, especially if English is someone's second language," she said. "It can also be very expensive, the application fee alone is more than $600 and attorneys can cost almost $1,400."
Dandy said Citizenship Day events allow residents access to attorneys and paralegals who can help them fill out their applications. They can also determine if an applicant is eligible for a fee-waiver, she said.
"We get them ready to basically send their applications in the mail and give them the resources to study for the test,' said Dandy.
She said she's seen firsthand how valuable the workshops are to some people.
"People are grateful, there are some who say they would not have become a citizen without our help," said Dandy. "To be able to give someone access to more rights and more stability through citizenship is amazing."