County of Santa Clara Announces Upcoming 2018 Citizenship Day

Collaborative of Community Agencies and Volunteers are Preparing to Provide Legal Assistance to Thousands of Immigrants Eligible for U.S. Citizenship

WHAT:

The County of Santa Clara Office of Immigrant Relations invites the media to a press conference to announce the County’s upcoming Citizenship Day.

The Santa Clara County Citizenship Collaborative will host its 28th Citizenship Day event on Saturday, April 21, 2018, to offer permanent residents initial legal assessment and citizenship application assistance in 14 languages. All services are free. Agencies and volunteers will provide information about payment assistance programs for citizenship applications, as well as partial and full fee waivers offered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Various organizations will provide information on legal services, resources and benefits for immigrants, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), adult education, food assistance and health care.

WHO:

Supervisor Mike Wasserman, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, District 1

Supervisor Dave Cortese, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, District 3

Miguel Màrquez, Chief Operating Officer, County of Santa Clara

David Campos, Deputy County Executive, County of Santa Clara

María Love, Director, Office of Immigrant Relations

Mónica Limas, Center for Employment Training (CET); Citizenship Collaborative representative

Daniel Garza, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, San Jose City College

Immigrants who have benefited from becoming U.S. citizens

WHEN AND WHERE:

Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 11:00 a.m.

Santa Clara County Government Center - Back Patio

70 W. Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110

WHY:

Last year, close to 1,500 people attended a total of 19 citizenship orientations where more than 180 volunteers helped them. Nearly 400 individuals were screened for eligibility and more than 260 citizenship applications were processed.

Given the current political climate, the following agencies partnered to form a Citizenship Collaborative: the Center for Employment Training (CET), Immigration and Citizenship Program; Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN); Asian Law Alliance; Catholic Charities; and the Santa Clara County’s Office of Immigrant Relations. Over 50 representatives from these organizations will be available to provide guidance and assistance with the help of immigration attorneys and more than 200 volunteers. Other partners and supporters of this effort include San Jose City College, the City of San Jose’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The upcoming Citizenship Day event in San Jose is free. We highly recommend registering prior to attending. by calling the Citizenship Collaborative at (408) 444-9975. You will find information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

For more information, visit: www.e-immigrate.us and www.immigrantinfo.org

ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the fifth largest county in California. With a $6.5 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and 20,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health and environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, parks, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.

Visit us at: http://www.sccgov.org

Media Contact: Laurel Anderson/Marina Hinestrosa, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119; Milina Jovanovic, Office of Immigrant Relations, (408) 299-5143; Teresa Castellanos, Office of Immigrant Relations, (408) 299-6413.

Posted: April 9, 2018

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