There are an estimated 2.3 million legal permanent residents (LPRs) in California who are eligible for citizenship. Recent estimates indicate that naturalization could increase California’s adult citizen population by up to 10 percent.¹

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced the launch of a federal initiative to raise awareness about the rights, responsibilities and importance of U.S. citizenship. The Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative will provide new opportunities for immigrants to learn about USCIS’s free citizenship education resources available to eligible lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and immigrant-serving organizations.

“Citizenship is the common thread that connects us all as Americans. This initiative emphasizes the importance of citizenship—not only to immigrants and their families but also to our nation as a whole,” said Director Mayorkas. “This effort marks a new milestone in USCIS’s outreach to lawful permanent residents.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Local Governments and Citizenship Efforts

In California, immigrant populations no longer tend to cluster solely in traditional gateways communities with established community organizations to support their integration. Immigrant populations are living and working in communities across the state that may or may not have community organizations to meet their specific needs. Therefore, local governments are uniquely situated to help facilitate the integration of immigrants into their communities.

Citizenship can be a unifying experience, with the potential to strengthen the social fabric of California’s communities. Local governments, nonprofits, congregations, and others across the state are supporting citizenship efforts in their communities. Is your city or county supporting local citizenship efforts? If so, please share your story with other local officials at www.ca-ilg.org/PublicEngagementStoryForm.

¹Rob Paral and Associates. 2008, Integration Potential of California’s Immigrants and Their Children, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees