Citzenship brings respect, immigrants say

NEW BEDFORD — Rosa Romero speaks little English and works as a janitor and cook 65 hours a week to feed her family.

This Dominican native might receive a suspicious glance once in a while, but that's OK.

She is an American now.

"As immigrants, we are often discriminated against in many ways," said Mrs. Romero, who became a citizen in 2000. "Becoming a citizen has changed my life. There are new doors open for me, and I can confidently go anywhere. Now, when I say that I am a citizen, I get treated better, with respect."

Twenty local organizations are holding a citizenship drive Saturday at the Southern New England School of Law in Dartmouth under a year-long national effort known as "Ya Es Hora iCidadania!," which translates as "Now it's time of citizenship!"