US IMMIGRATION – Need help in applying for U.S. citizenship? SF workshop is free
Applicants get help completing forms correctly. CONTRIBUTED
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SAN FRANCISCO — Climate change is real. In this country, specifically, that would be the current political climate, with rhetoric rising from high-level officials lumping immigrants from certain countries as anything from undesirable to murderous.
Post-racial America? That was a dream quashed even before the first President of African heritage left the White House. Almost instantly, the “kinder, gentler nation,” or the “shining city upon a hill,” invoked by previous, yes, Republican presidents, seems to have faded. Focus has shifted to The Wall, palpable and intimidating even as a prospect, to anyone contemplating covert entry into the Land of the Free. Only for the southern edge of the territory, of course.
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The term “immigrant” by itself has become code for outsider, interloper, freeloader — even if the status was acquired legally. Bigotry is bedfellow to nationalism ignited by this political administration. Which is why now more than ever, efforts of a coalition of nonprofits could not have been more timely.
Whether or not identifying as “American” is the objective, more legal permanent residents, also known as “green cards” holders, are deciding to take their oath as U.S. citizens.
U.S. citizens may vote, among many rights not available to legal permanent residents. The right to vote empowers citizens to effect change through the democratic process, immigrants’ advocates emphasize.
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Impact
Filipino permanent residents cite various reasons for delaying naturalization. Some chafe at the thought of serving on a jury, seeing it as an inconvenience rather than a civic duty. Others say they do not want to lose their right to vote in Philippine elections.
Filipino American community leader Robert Uy addressed those concerns.
Volunteers practice emphatic listening at last year’s naturalization workshop. CONTRIBUTED
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“Everyone who permanently resides in the United States should apply for citizenship,” urged the partner of the Uy Law Group based in South San Francisco. “Filipinos can retain their dual citizenship if they naturalize. Some benefits of naturalization include: the ability to vote, the ability to hold office, the ability to live abroad indefinitely; the ability to hold certain government jobs; and protection from deportation.”
Uy, a former president of the Filipino Bar of Northern California, noted the impact of a citizen petition for family reunification.
“It is much faster for citizens to petition their spouses and children under the age of 21. They can also petition their parents or fiancées unlike legal permanent residents,” he said, with a caveat: “The most important is protection from deportation. In this current political climate citizenship will help protect you from removal from this country. LPRs (legal permanent residents) can easily be found removable for drug crimes, domestic violence and other serious violent crime convictions.”
By: Cherie M. Querol Moreno – @inquirerdotnet
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