Citizenship and Integration National Capacity Building Project
In 2010, CLINIC received a grant for national capacity building from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of Citizenship to launch the Citizenship & Integration National Capacity Building Project. The goal of this project is to expand citizenship services for Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) in underserved communities.
Through this project, CLINIC provides technical assistance and funding to four local affiliate agencies to establish new programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) citizenship education and/or naturalization application assistance. Three of the local agencies are developing a legal immigration program that is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
CLINIC assists with project design and curriculum development, offers training on naturalization law and program management, and provides case consultations and intensive assistance with the BIA application process.
Profiles of CLINIC’s Local Partners
Catholic Charities of Buffalo, NY
Catholic Charities of Buffalo is creating a new citizenship program that is expected to demonstrate significant change and community impact. From 1999 to 2009, more than 6,000 refugees were resettled in the eight counties of Western New York. Catholic Charities resettled 61% of the refugees that arrived in Western New York between 2003 and 2005, a key timeframe for current citizenship application eligibility. In addition, about 100 refugees arrive in Buffalo each year as secondary migrants, and other immigrants come to join family members already in the area. Catholic Charities currently offers eight ESL classes daily, but these classes are only for new refugee arrivals. There is a tremendous need for civics-focused ESL and citizenship classes for other refugees and immigrants, as well as naturalization application assistance.
Catholic Charities of Cleveland, OH
Catholic Charities of Cleveland initially plans to develop citizenship services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in Cuyahoga County, and after building capacity, to expand the services to the other seven counties: Ashland, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne. Cleveland has been a traditional gateway for refugees and immigrants since 1948 and continues in this capacity. According to the U.S. Census, more than 400,000 foreign-born individuals live in Ohio, which is 3.6% of the state’s population. Of these, 41.3% reside in the Cleveland/Akron area (Northeast Ohio). Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Each year in Ohio, approximately 13,000 immigrants are granted LPR status. Twenty-five percent of the new LPRs reside in the Cleveland area. Cleveland’s LPRs come from 20 different countries.
Catholic Services of Macomb, MI
Catholic Services of Macomb is creating a new citizenship program. Southeast Michigan has a long tradition of receiving immigrants into the community, and this migration pattern remains strong today. Macomb County (in the greater Detroit area) is the third largest county in the state of Michigan, as well as one of the fastest growing, particularly in terms of immigrant populations. Based on the U.S. Census, the number of foreign-born persons in Macomb County is an estimated 8.8%, exceeding the state of Michigan average of 5.3%. The majority of agencies providing immigration and refugee resettlement services are based in Oakland and Wayne counties, making access difficult if not impossible for immigrant populations in Macomb due to the distance between counties and minimal public transportation.
Catholic Charities of Stockton, CA
Catholic Charities has an existing, BIA recognized immigration legal services program that was established in 1997 in response to a large need to provide low-cost, professional legal immigration services. Studies indicate that Northern California has more than 750,000 naturalization eligible immigrants. Existing legal immigration services programs have the capacity to serve less than 8% of the estimated 99,000 low-income, naturalization-eligible immigrants in Northern California. In San Joaquin County there are more than 38,000 immigrants who are now eligible to naturalize. In this county, the need also exists for civics-focused ESL and citizenship classes, as current classes are inadequate. CLINIC is assisting Catholic Charities in creating a new ESL/citizenship education program to enhance the legal services already being provided. It is anticipated that this program will greatly improve clients’ ability to pass the citizenship test.
Related Resources:
CLINIC Resources
Citizenship and Civic Participation Toolkit - This toolkit contains a number of resources on citizenship and civic participation.
Toolkit for BIA Recognition and Accreditation - This toolkit is designed to educate agencies on the need for BIA recognition and accreditation and assist them in the application process.
Toolkit for Naturalization Workshops - This toolkit is designed to help charitable immigration programs achieve a successful workshop. The forms and sample documents can be used as is or adapted by local programs for their own needs.
Starting a Legal Immigration Program - This guide is designed to give an overview of essentials for starting a new legal services program or sustaining an existing nonprofit legal immigration program.
Managing an Immigration Program: Steps for Creating and Increasing Legal Capacity - This manual describes best practices used by many of the country's most experienced nonprofit immigration programs and managers.
Additional Resources
Office of Citizenship press release
USCIS' Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative
USCIS’ Public Education Initiative to Combat the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law
Have a Question?
For more information about this project, please contact the Project Coordinator, Laura Burdick, at 202-635-5820 or lburdick@cliniclegal.org.