On Saturday, February 15, families struggling to pay for expensive citizenship applications got an opportunity to apply for a new citizenship loan being launched by Second Federal Credit Union (SFCU) and The Resurrection Project (TRP). The new loan allows families to apply for citizenship even if they don’t have the immediate financial resources to do so.

The announcement was made at St. Pius Parish, where TRP and its partners organized a citizenship enrollment workshop to encourage eligible families to apply for U.S. citizenship and exercise their political power. More than 200 families attended, receiving the information and assistance they needed from volunteers.
Supporting the new citizenship application loan is Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, who spoke at the workshop and applauded everyone who came out to apply for citizenship. In Illinois there are approximately 351,000 Legal Permanent Residents eligible to apply to become naturalized U.S. citizens.
This new financial initiative is also in partnership with the National Council of La Raza and is part of their Citizenship Savings and Loan Pilot Program.
“We’re proud to be working with The Resurrection Project on this initiative,” says Rudy Medina, President of Second Federal Credit Union. “Second Federal Credit Union’s citizenship loan will be an important tool in removing the economic barrier to citizenship and helping many immigrant families realize full integration.”
Last year, SFCU introduced an innovative DREAMer Loan, a $465 loan to young immigrants to finance their visa applications for the federal government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. Additionally, TRP will provide financial coaching in conjunction with the loan to assist people in achieving their financial goals.
“The Resurrection Project’s commitment to families trying to apply for citizenship continues,” says Erendira Rendon, Community Organizer for TRP. “By working with Second Federal Credit Union we will be able to help them on their path to citizenship through innovative financial products that remove financial obstacles that keep them from starting the application process.”
When individuals stabilize their status and keep their families together, they enrich the communities they live in and strengthen local and national economies. Recent data published by the Bipartisan Policy Center reported, “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 contribute to the nation’s economy, growing it “4.8 percent over the next 20 years and reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion.”
If you would like more information on the new citizenship loan through Second Federal Credit Union, please call 773-277-8500.