Technology Helps Make Naturalization More Accessible
Technology helps make naturalization more accessible
Technology helps make naturalization more accessible
Becoming a citizen can sometimes be a lengthy and expensive process but "Ya Es Hora" is a national campaign aimed to help those looking for naturalization.
The program starts with webinar training to better equip attorneys and community volunteers.
"Go through that two-hour training with an attorney so then they're able to go out to their local event and help 100, 200 applicants apply for citizenship," said Lizette Escobedo with the NALEO Educational fund.
NALEO is the organization behind the campaign. Escobedo says each month there are local events where people can get the ball rolling towards citizenship.
"These workshops become one-stop shops to where the applicant takes all of their information and they're able to get their application filled out and reviewed by an attorney all at the same place," she said. "A service that would otherwise cost them anywhere from $400-$2,000."
It's also a service Escobedo says will help the Latino voice to be heard on a local and national level come election time.
"They feel very much so American. They feel a part of this country. They've been contributing to this country for many years so this is just a way of really formalizing that bond with this country," said Escobedo.
People who would like to attend one of the group's upcoming events can log onto the website for "Ya Es Hora".