9:28 AM
Causa Oregon
Oregon joins effort with 40 workshops and
ceremonies across nation promoting citizenship as White House launches national
naturalization campaign
Woodburn, OR-- Grassroots
advocacy organizations and cities across America will help thousands of
immigrants to become U.S. citizens around Citizenship Day while the White House
launches a national campaign to raise awareness about naturalization among eligible
immigrant communities. Oregon organizations Causa, PCUN, and the Oregon AFL-CIO
will join the national effort by hosting a free citizenship workshop to assist
eligible immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship in Woodburn, OR on Saturday, September 19.
These
efforts offer a sharp contrast to the hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric trumpeted
by candidates vying for the presidency. Donald Trump called Mexicans “rapists,”
had a prominent Latino news anchor forcibly removed from a press conference,
and vows to end the 14th amendment guarantee of birthright
citizenship. Other candidates have insulted Asians with the use of the term
“anchor babies,” waxed poetic about a fence on the northern border, and have
parroted Trump’s racism. These aren’t policy platforms—they are bigoted and
xenophobic attacks.
“The recent attacks on Latinos
and Asians are attacks on all immigrants and our nation’s values,” said Andrea
Miller, Executive Director of Causa. “These are the fastest growing populations
of the U.S. electorate. The hateful language used by these candidates are
attacks on our Constitution, our values, and our children – they are
un-American and will not stand.”
Instead, efforts led by Causa,
PCUN, and Oregon AFL-CIO along with national partners will celebrate
Citizenship Day and honor the New Americans who make this country great. Causa
is a member of the National
Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), who will host 40
citizenship workshops and naturalization ceremonies across the country on and
around Citizenship Day, September 17, 2015.
The repeated offenses and
attacks against immigrant communities are inspiring many to pursue their dreams
of becoming U.S. citizens this year. Sergio, a Salem resident, recently became
a U.S. citizen and registered to vote with the help of Causa. Sergio has lived
in the United States for nearly ten years. When asked about why he became a
U.S. citizen he replied, “I
saw it as an opportunity to exercise my right to vote, I did it for my family,
and for the chance to exercise my right as a contributing member of the United
States.”
In Oregon, there
are over 80,000 green card holders who are eligible to apply for U.S.
citizenship, demonstrating the huge need to assist individuals through the
citizenship process. By hosting citizenship workshops and participating in
National Citizenship Day, Causa and its partners hope to increase the number of
greed card holders applying for U.S. citizenship.
It shouldn’t take public
attacks against immigrants to encourage hardworking Americans to become
citizens. There are dramatic benefits for local municipal governments and the
country as a whole when immigrants naturalize since citizenship increases local
economic revenue, as well as creates new economic opportunities and increased
civic engagement. Citizenship can also help New Americans increase their
incomes, open businesses, and become homeowners.
For a list of NPNA Citizenship Day 2015
events, see www.partnershipfornewamericans.org/citizenship-day-2015/.
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About Causa
Causa is Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org
About NPNA
The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) harnesses
the collective power and resources of the country’s 37 largest regional
immigrant rights organizations in 30 states. NPNA’s aim is to achieve a
vibrant, just and welcoming democracy for all. Immigrants are the soul of NPNA,
and immigrant communities inspire, implement and champion NPNA’s work.
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