CUNY Citizenship Now! on Saturday provided free legal assistance to more than 300 green card holders with their naturalization applications at its annual Spring Citizenship Drive. The all-day event, hosted at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in partnership with Univision Nueva York Contigo, was themed “Become a Citizen: Opportunities Await.” This year’s drive emphasized two critical reasons for becoming a naturalized citizen, namely less scrutiny when travelling and enhanced legal protections.

The event was supported by 220 volunteers as well as 77 legal and administrative staff members from CUNY Citizenship Now!, the largest university-based legal assistance program in the country. Eligible applicants left with a completed citizenship application packet ready for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

“As the benefits of becoming a naturalized citizen become even more apparent, we are proud to host this annual Spring Citizenship Drive as a free resource for New York’s green card holders,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “CUNY Citizenship Now! has been a key player in providing immigration services for nearly 30 years, and the University remains committed to serving our city’s most vulnerable communities.”

“At TelevisaUnivision, we believe that citizenship is the foundation of empowerment,” said Roberto Yañez, regional president and general manager of Univision Nueva York. “By helping our communities take this vital step, we’re not only supporting their future—we’re strengthening our democracy and ensuring every voice is heard.”

“Congratulations to CUNY Citizenship Now! for helping more than 300 green card holders take a vital step toward U.S. citizenship this past Saturday,” said Councilmember Gale Brewer. “It was a powerful demonstration of what is possible when our city comes together in support of immigrant communities. With the support of dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and partners from across sectors, CUNY Citizenship Now! continues to open doors of opportunity and provide the resources and dignity every New Yorker deserves. I’m proud to stand with CUNY and all those working to ensure that the promise of citizenship is within reach for all.”

“Citizenship reduces immigrants’ uncertainty about their status and future and gives them the stability and legal protections they need to thrive,” said CUNY Citizenship Now! Interim Executive Director Monique Francis. “In addition, becoming a U.S. citizen may even make travel smoother and less stressful since U.S. citizens face less scrutiny at the airports, among other benefits.” 

Participants were also screened for eligibility to apply for a fee waiver or a reduced application fee, which could save them hundreds of dollars. Volunteers and staff who were on hand spoke to attendees in their native languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali, Urdu, Haitian Creole and Arabic. Tabling organizations provided participants important information on topics such as citizenship test preparation classes, resources for immigrants, jobs within the city government and applying to college. 

The Spring Drive is sponsored by prominent nonprofits, law firms and government agencies including Access Justice Brooklyn; American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), New York Chapter; Bloomberg, L.P.; CUNY School of Law; Dominican Bar Association; Dominicanos USA, Inc. NY (DUSA); Fragomen; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Hispanic Federation; John Jay College of Criminal Justice; New Americans Campaign (NAC); New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; New York City Council; NYC Department of Social Services (DSS); NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA); NYS Office for New Americans; and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

CUNY Citizenship Now! proudly offers year-round citizenship application services to all permanent residents, not only those in the CUNY system. To learn more about these and other services, call 646-664-9400 or 212-652-2071, or visit cuny.edu/citizenshipnow.

– Story courtesy of CUNY Communications