Wojciech Zolmowski, Executive Director of the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit informing guests about the new citizenship application that will be 21 pages long beginning May 5, as opposed to the current 10 page application. Both applications are being held up to compare the difference in length. PHOTO: Anthony Advincula.

FARMINGTON HILLS-Language barriers and financial hardship are two major hurdles that prevent immigrants from becoming U.S. citizens. There are a lot of free and affordable services available that make the process easier, but  aren’t taken advantage of more frequently, because people don’t know about them. 

On Wednesday Feb. 19, New America Media in collaboration with the National Immigration Forum and Detroit New Americans Campaign hosted a roundtable discussion at Antonio’s Restaurant here about the role ethnic media can play in making it easier for immigrants to get their citizenship. Immigrant advocacy organizations, recently naturalized citizens and Detroit ethnic media all participated in the discussion. 

Nationally, there are approximately 8.8 million immigrants currently eligible for citizenship in the United States.  The citizenship application is currently 10 pages, and will double to 21 pages beginning May 5. Immigrant rights activists are encouraging people to apply for their citizenship before then in order to avoid filling out the longer version of the application.  

Below is information compiled from the conference, and an interview The Arab American News conducted with Diego Bonesatti, the director of legal services at Michigan United.  

Low-income individuals who receive government assistance from public programs such as Supplemental Security Income can apply to have the application fee waived. Bonesatti says those who apply will have to provide an award letter showing they receive government assistance in order to take advantage of the fee waiver. If you are working and experiencing severe financial hardship you might also be eligible for the waiver, but would have to provide additional documentation. Those who are living under 150% of the poverty line, as proven by their most recent federal tax returns are eligible to get the fee waived as well. 

Over the last decade Michigan has experienced a large influx of Iraqi refugees. Many of them suffer from trauma they experienced in their war-torn country. Those with physical or mental disabilities can obtain a waiver making them exempt from taking the exam. The disability waiver for the exam is only granted when the physical, mental or developmental disability is chronic and shown to impede the applicant’s ability to learn either English, history, government, among other subjects. For example, a person who had a leg amputated because of diabetes wouldn’t meet requirements to have the fee waived. 

A physician must fill out forms in order for the waiver to be approved. “So if you are lets say a refugee and show some type of trauma mentally, or are physically impaired you might not have to take the exam, and get that waived,” said Bonesatti. 

The Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services and Arab and Chaldean Council both offer free and affordable English language programs that will benefit immigrants when they take the U.S. Citizenship Exam. Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn also offers English language courses. A new program called, “Make Me A Citizen” was recently launched, and is being taught by local high school teachers who want to give immigrants the resources and education they need to pass the citizenship exam. It only costs $150 to join the program.  The Detroit New Americans Campaign is offering classes that span eight weeks, and take place every Tuesday. The classes are aimed at helping immigrants earn their citizenship.   

If you are over 50 years old and have been a legal permanent resident for 20 years, you can take the exam in your native language. The same applies for people who are at least 55-years-old and have been in the country for 15 years. 

Becoming a citizen can also prevent you from being deported. If you have a felony, domestic violence conviction, or are caught with possession of drugs, you could be deported. Steve Tobocman, the previous director of Global Detroit says many employers and good paying government jobs require applicants to be U.S. citizens.   

Other speakers included Susan Reed, Supervising Attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Wojciech Zolnowski, Executive Director, International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit; Sandy Close, Executive Director of New America Media; Bing Goei, Director of the Michigan Office for New Americans; and Blanca Mares, Community Support Coordinator, Centro Multicultural La Familia and a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Barbara Kochanek, a Polish immigrant who was born in 1941, and recently became a U.S. citizen on Jan. 19, 2014, discussed the challenges she faced earning her citizenship.

 

Kochanek says some of her friends initially doubted she would be able to pass the citizenship exam, but she proved them wrong. “If I can do it, anyone can,” she said.

For more information on the “Make Me a Citizen Program” call 313.451.1795. The Detroit New Americans Campaign is offering a free citizen workshop Saturday, Feb. 22 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. To register for the workshop or take advantage of the group’s eight-week citizenship sessions, call 248.858.7800, ext. 1005.