November 1, 2007 - Assemblymember De La Torre, NALEO Host Citizenship Workshop

Assemblymember De La Torre, NALEO Host Citizenship Workshop

Event will assist permanent residents on their path to becoming U.S Citizens, provide participants with a Zero interest loan to qualified applicants

Los Angeles, CA—Assemblymember Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate) and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) will host a citizenship workshop to help permanent residents in the southeast cities become United States citizens. The workshop aims at boosting the `number of U.S Citizenship applications from South East Los Angeles and provide people with financial need with a Zero interest loan on site to qualified applicants.

"We want to make sure that permanent residents receive the assistance of professionally trained volunteers in meeting citizenship requirements,” said Assemblymember De La Torre. “Many can’t afford private lawyers or have difficulty in preparing their applications"

WHO: Assemblymember Hector De La Torre
Javier Angulo, NALEO’s Director of Civic Education
Hundreds of Legal Permanent Residents
Dozens of bilingual volunteers and Attorneys.

WHAT:           Urge permanent residents to participate in the citizenship workshop that will help participants verify their eligibility, complete necessary applications, take passport photographs, and review their application for submission. In addition, NALEO will provide participants with a Zero interest loan to qualified applicants.
WHY:              According to NALEO, legal permanent residents face new barriers making the citizenship process even more difficult. This summer, application fees went up by 69 percent from $400 to $675.
WHERE:         John Anson Ford park Gymnasium
8000 Park Lane (East of Garfield Ave.)
Bell Gardens, CA 90201

WHEN:           Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
                        Press Availability: 9:30 a.m.
                        (Citizenship Workshop: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Background: In California, there are currently 2.7 million immigrants eligible to naturalize, but there are not enough services to assist them through a process that can be difficult and expensive. California’s naturalization rate of 53% is among the lowest in the nation. Only 8 other states have lower rates than California. If you look only at the six states that are the major destinations for immigrants, California has a lower naturalization rate than all of them, except for Texas according to 2005 statistics.

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