On July 2, 2021, the Naturalization Working Group (NWG) released a report on how they will seek to promote and expand citizenship for noncitizens and immigrants. This report is in response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans.
The report is divided into three sections seeking to improve and streamline the naturalization process:
- Immigrant, Community, and Education Outreach Initiative
- Promoting Citizenship through Capacity Building and Partnership
- Citizenship Education and Inclusive Language
The first prong seeks to directly engage with immigrants and noncitizens. This contact would take place through various means like social media, awareness campaigns, and other educational material that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will seek to provide to noncitizens, immigrants, and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).
The second prong seeks to indirectly engage with immigrants and noncitizens. USCIS will also seek to indirectly reach out to people through different partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, libraries, employers, and even foreign consulates. USCIS will also seek to review the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides grants to nonprofit organizations working with LPRs on gaining citizenship. As part of these efforts USCIS will provide informational materials to various government agencies to make available to people who may be eligible for naturalization.
The third prong of this strategy focuses on the content of the material presented. One consideration is expanding the number of languages naturalization material is available in. Additionally, USCIS is considering including videos of senior administration officials, highlighting their immigration stories. Another proposal is to create apps and other ways of accessing material to prepare for naturalization.
If you have any questions regarding naturalization or any other immigration related matter, please do not hesitate to contact KILO Immigration, a Sacramento immigration law firm by filling out this contact form.