Thread: Millions of Legal Immigrants Skipping U.S. Citizenship

Millions of Legal Immigrants Skipping U.S. Citizenship

• May 5, 2014
  

By Lori Abbott, Public News Service

Many legal immigrants in California and across the country are not pursuing citizenship. Even though more than 8 million nationwide are eligible to apply, many have never even taken the first step. Some immigrants cite the expense, which is about $700 in fees, plus the cost of a lawyer. Others worry they don’t speak English well enough to pass the citizenship test.

Mark Lopez directs the Hispanic Research Center, Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. He says there are some key differences between having legal permanent status and being a U.S. citizen.

“Legal Permanent Resident status does come with a number of benefits: being able to work legally, they do have to pay taxes, they can travel. But, it doesn’t include the right to vote or to never be deported, because once you become a U.S. citizen you can not be deported,” Lopez says.

A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 36 percent of Mexicans who are here legally actually go on to become naturalized U.S. citizens. This percentage is much less than other groups, including Cubans, Indians and Europeans.

Julissa Gutierrez is acting director of National Programs and Community Relations for the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. Her group encourages people to take the pathway to citizenship so they have the right to vote.

“Often, immigrants coming into this country do not come with a full understanding of the law of the United States. They also come with experiences from their home country that may bar them, as well. It’s a learning process,” Gutierrez explains.

The Pew poll also found that the vast majority of immigrants, and the American public, do support a pathway to citizenship.

This story is based on original reporting by Feet in 2 Worlds and made possible in part by the Voqal Fund.

This article was originally published in Public News Service.

http://www.newstaco.com/2014/05/05/m...-s-citizenship

Voices: Afraid to apply for citizenship

Alan Gomez, USA TODAY6:03 p.m. EDT May 5, 2014


(Photo: Charles Dharapak, AP)

MIAMI — The solution seems simple enough.

Hispanics make up 17% of the U.S. population, but they remain vastly underrepresented in Congress, accounting for 7% of the members of the House of Representatives and 3% of the Senate. Only 56% of Hispanic green-card holders apply for U.S. citizenship, which means Hispanics have a lower voter participation rate (48%) than blacks or whites.

That's why each election season you see a large number of groups scrambling to get Hispanics to apply for citizenship and, eventually, register to vote.

On Monday, a high-profile group led by actress Eva Longoria and Democratic National Committee finance chairman Henry Munoz III launched the Latino Victory Project to do just that. Across the country, smaller groups are organizing citizenship and voter registration seminars to walk Hispanics through the complicated application process.

But there are a number of reasons Hispanics hesitate when thinking about applying to become citizens.

Some simply aren't sure they want to stay in the USA. George Cabrera, president of ASPIRA of Florida, a non-profit organization that helps young Hispanics receive education and leadership training, says many of the parents he encounters from Central and South America come here to work, raise their kids and save money. But eventually they want to go home

"It makes sense, because when you look at the financial difference, you can live like a millionaire there," he says.

Others can't afford the price of admission. With the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services charging $680 to apply — a process that can get far more costly for those who need an immigration attorney — the opportunity can become too expensive.

The biggest deterrent, however, is fear of the unknown.

Sajan Kurian is an Indian immigrant who studied at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. He worked as a CT scan technologist for decades and now works for Florida state Rep. Shervin Jones. Kurian held off on applying for citizenship for more than 20 years because he didn't know what would happen if his application was rejected.


Actress Eva Longoria speaks at an event launching The Latino Victory Project, a Latino political action committee, at the National Press Club in Washington on May 5.(Photo: Charles Dharapak, AP)


"The fear factor was, 'What if? What if something goes wrong?'" he says.

That's why Kurian joined several South Florida groups Monday as they kicked off efforts to counsel the large Hispanic community here. The fear factor that Kurian experienced only increases for Hispanics, many of whom are related to undocumented immigrants or live with them.

Applying to become a citizen includes detailed questions about the family — parents, children, spouse, even previous spouses. Cabrera says it scares people to hand over to the government the vital details of loved ones they know are in the country illegally.

"They think that once they put their name and address of where they're at, (the government) is going to come and ship them back," he says.

Immigrants have different reasons for being here. Many from Brazil and Argentina want to invest their money here because of the uncertain business climate back home. Some from Venezuela and Cuba are fleeing political strife. Many Central Americans and Mexicans are running away from violent drug wars or simply want to provide a better future for their children.

But all of them forfeit their ability to reshape the country they're living in if they don't become citizens and can't vote. The 2014 elections could seriously alter the makeup of Congress and statehouses across the country. However daunting it can be to file for citizenship, it's the only way Hispanics can play a part as big as their numbers.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ation/8730527/

If they are in doubt or worried why bother because our government won't do anything anyway unless they commit a huge crime.