Incentives to citizenship

PROVIDENCE — Juan Garcia arrived in the United States in 1978. Originally from Guatemala, he says he’s had permanent legal status here for 22 years. Not until now, however, has the 54-year-old community service worker chosen to become a citizen.

Spurred by the polarizing immigration reform debate and steep hikes in the naturalization fees come Aug. 1, Garcia plans to register for citizenship on Saturday and fulfill a growing sense of civic obligation.

Yesterday, Shuey, Garcia and two other legal immigrants, Eduviges DeLaRosa and Gabriela Amparo, joined a collection of church, union and community organizations promoting a national campaign to motivate legal immigrants to become citizens and use the power of their vote.

Juan Garcia, above, at a news conference at Providence City Hall to urge immigrants to apply for citizenship, says he’s ready to become a citizen

On Saturday, the International Institute, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, Progreso Latino and Project Hope will offer citizen application advice at four locations in Providence and Central Falls.

Rocio Saenz, president of Local 615 of the Service Employees International Union, says there are 8 million legal immigrants nationally eligible for U.S. citizenship. The national movement — “ya es hora,” or, now’s the time — has a goal to naturalize more than 1 million new citizens this year, in time for next year’s elections.