SF public libraries to help immigrants apply for US citizenship

San Francisco Public Library Haight Branch. SFPL

SAN FRANCISCO –  A new program that aims to make US citizenship more accessible to eligible green card holders will start in October and allow qualifying immigrants to apply for citizenship at their local branch library.

The program is a partnership between the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) and the San Francisco Public Library. It will be announced during a free citizenship workshop at City College of San Francisco’s Ocean campus on Saturday, September 9.

The effort is part of an initiative to make citizenship more accessible to eligible green card holders at a critical time.

Earlier this week, President Trump declared the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which put many immigrant families on edge.

Organizers of the citizenship workshop say that in a time of uncertainty, many eligible immigrants are now choosing to naturalize.

“Many have been living in great fear and anxiety in light of the anti-immigrant policies from the current administration,” said Anni Chung, president and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly, the lead organization for the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative. “The SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, supported by Mayor Ed Lee and OCEIA, will continue to expand our naturalization activities to reach as many people as we can in San Francisco as well as in the Bay Area,” said Chung.

To help eligible immigrants apply for citizenship, the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is organizing a free workshop on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. The workshop will take place at City College of San Francisco’s Ocean campus, Multi-use building (MUB) Room 140, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, 94112. Registration is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointment is needed.

Saturday’s free citizenship workshop is part of San Francisco’s celebration of National Citizenship Day later this month, in partnership with the Naturalize NOW! campaign sponsored by Cities for Citizenship.

For more information, go to: www.sfcitizenship.org or email [email protected].