LOS ANGELES – Hundreds of lawful permanent residents participated in the 2nd Annual Pan Asian Citizenship Workshop for free US citizenship application assistance at the Los Angeles Central Library on Saturday, May 31, in congruence with the celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
City Librarian John Szabo initiated the event to accommodate permanent residents (and other eligibles) to complete their US naturalization citizenship applications. He stated that all LA public libraries already conducted 840 free US citizenship classes and workshops for the past two years.
Over 11,000 applicants have taken steps towards US citizenship since the workshops began.
LA City Mayor Eric Garcetti, who graced the event, shared an inspirational story about his immigrant grandparents.
He encouraged the applicants to become lawful US citizens “to have a better job opportunity and [the] ability to vote.”
He also said that more than 750,000 LA County residents are eligible to apply for US citizenship (250,000 of them are Asian Americans- the largest fasting ethnic group in Southern California).
“The pathway of citizenship is the best root to ensure success [in the nation],” Garcetti said.
“It’s exciting and motivating for Filipinos to help becoming US citizens. The process [of US citizenship] can be intimidating due to economic conditions and other factors. We’re aiming at least 300 applicants per year in our organization,” Hector Escobar, FASGI intern, said.
US citizenship application process
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, a person must meet the following requirements to become a US citizen: (1) be at least 18 years old (2) be a permanent resident for at least 5 years (3) be able to read, write and speak basic English (4) have a basic understanding of US history and government (5) be a person of good moral character (6) and have an understanding of the US Constitution.
73 Los Angeles Public Library branches provide US citizenship services to the applicants, including the citizenship application process and naturalization test.
Pan Asian Citizenship Workshop was sponsored by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA, Office of Immigrant Affairs (Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office), South Asian Network, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) and Korean Resource Center.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek June 4-6, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
