by Diana Pando
Did you know that when immigrants stabilize their status and keep their families together they enrich their communities and strengthen local and national economies?
According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, “Immigration reform would create 105,923 jobs in Illinois and boost the state’s economic output by $1.8 billion.” The data also states immigration reform would grow the nation’s economy “4.8 percent over the next 20 years and reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion.”
While immigration reform is a hot-button issue in 2014, organizations such as The Resurrection Project (TRP) are working with community leaders on immigration reform initiatives and helping people begin the process of citizenship through free workshops. These workshops are a simple way for individuals and families to get access to the information they need to successfully apply for citizenship. Maria Guadalupe Mendez, who attended the last TRP citizenship workshop, felt that everyone was very attentive.
“It was free unlike other places that charge you to fill out the application,” Mendez said, adding that she also convinced her daughter-in-law to start the process and will be accompanying her to the next citizenship workshop.
“We live in this country and our children our citizens,” Mendez said. “By doing this we will be able to vote and have more of a voice in this country and I think that’s a good thing for the Latino community in general.”
Attendees of the citizenship workshops get help filling out the application so they don’t have to pay fees. Attendees also get their application photographs taken and have access to legal referrals.
“I’m volunteering at the citizenship workshops because a lot of people are being deported and separated from their families,” says Elia Arenas, a community member.  “I hope that immigration reform will go through because I have friends, neighbors, and family members that need to get documented.  We reach out to people in churches and libraries and we explain the citizenship program. I want people to succeed in the future because they are our future.”
“I want to emphasize the importance of becoming a citizen,” says Araceli Lucio, Community Organizer at The Resurrection Project. “Knowing that there is another person that will be able to vote and that can make a change in our community and have access to medical coverage fills me with satisfaction.”
Lucio encourages people to take advantage of the workshops because they’re a free and valuable resource. “It’s important for individuals and families to know that they are not alone in this process,” says Lucio. “There are organizations like TRP and people that can help them take this big step towards citizenship.”
TRP is asking participants to save time by bringing the following:

• Green card, Social Security Card, and driver’s license or State ID
• Dates of all travels outside the U.S. since becoming a permanent resident
• All addresses and employers, dates, and locations for the past 5 years
• Spouse’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, AND green card number (if applicable) OR date of naturalization (if applicable)
• Date(s) of marriage and divorce (if applicable)
• Names, date of birth, and green card number of children and their addresses (if applicable)
• Arrests dates, reasons, and outcomes (if any)
• Males: Selective Service number and registration date

Upcoming citizenship workshops:

February 15, 2014
9:00 a.m. –d 12:00 p.m.
Saint Pius V Parish
1919 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608

March 22, 2014
9:00 a.m.  – 12:00 p.m.
Daley College

Questions on this workshop, future citizenship workshops, or volunteering? Call Araceli Lucio at 312-880-1888.

Return to Nueva Vida February 2014 here.