Being a citizen of the United States is a privilege with perks like being able to vote and travel. But to access it, many first go through a complicated and sometimes even painful citizenship process.
However, there is help, such as that offered by the DominicanosUSA organization, which is totally free.
Eddie Cuesta, Executive Director of Dominicanos USA, says:
“Today we have this seminar here at St Frances Cabrini Church in northern Manhattan where we will help more than a hundred people in the process of obtaining citizenship,” says Cuesta.
The assistance workshop celebrating Citizenship Day is held in person for the first time since 2020 due to the pandemic. Attendees fill out their applications online at DominicanosUSA.org or in person at 701 Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan.
Happy #National Citizenship Day! To celebrate the holiday, our citizenship application assistance event started at 10am today at the Shrine of Santa Francesca Cabrini in Washington Heights! #YoSoyDUSA pic.twitter.com/3JOpdvnmz2
– Dominicans USA | DUSA (@YoSoyDUSA) September 17, 2022
A group of nearly 30 lawyers offer free consultations. They receive several types of support, including how to apply for a certificate of disposition in New York City; for arrests, fines or accused of crime.
Attorney Rosemarin Belliard says they “review the application to make sure there are no problems and that residents can move on to the next step.”
Organizing lawyer Alicia Arana recalls that another benefit of the process is automatic citizenship for children under 18. It applies to biological or adoptive parents.
“A certificate of citizenship, or they can fill out an application for a US passport. It is the same day that the father or mother become citizens ”.
On the other side of the temple are the remains of Santa Francesca Cabrini, the Catholic patroness of immigrants and the first American citizen to be canonized in the United States.
Berta Flores, an Ecuadorian immigrant, has a daughter in Ecuador whom she has not seen for 20 years. Her husband died of COVID. She has done her paperwork and begs for her case to be solved:
“And I hope my documents will come out soon so I can go see her or bring her here.”
Dominicans USA is joined by “ONE percent for America”. The organization offers loans with one percent interest to cover the $ 725 dollar cost that the government charges to process paperwork. Others have their expenses reduced or free depending on their situation.
More than 800,000 lawful residents of New York state can become citizens but would not know how. If you are one of them, you can call or write for help.
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