Language appears to be the biggest barrier between immigrants and United States citizenship.
Recently, a number of volunteer organizations and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) sponsored “Citizenship Day” at various locations around Washington state. The purpose was to help those trying to become U.S. citizens with their N-400s, the citizenship papers.
Applying for citizenship is a nerve-wracking process for many applicants. In Tukwila’s Showalter Middle School, one of the stations where people could get help, one could feel the tension and see the worry on many of the faces of those seeking aid. One woman, a Latina, was rubbing her forehead with her hand in exhaustion while her husband studied their N-400 forms closely, straining his eyes.
Judy Tilton, a paralegal who volunteered her time for this event, said the process of applying for citizenship is frightening for many. “These forms are daunting,” she said.
Language, Tilton said, is one of the biggest barriers. Some of the questions are confusing; applicants are afraid to get them wrong. One question regarding alimony does not translate into Spanish very well, according to Tilton, and was confusing to a couple she had helped earlier that day.
Another couple, Raul and Deborah Alonso, agreed, saying that knowing English was a great help. Deborah said she learned English in Mexico because it was important to her mother that she be bilingual. Raul is learning English through working in the U.S. “It is worse when you don’t know the language,” Deborah said. The Alonsos arrived in the U.S. separately; Raul has been in the country for 28 years, and Deborah for eight years. They both said their situation is not as difficult as that of many others attempting to gain citizenship.
Another woman had brought along her adolescent son to use as a translator. Although there were some translators provided, Tilton said they needed more.
The event cost each participant $20, which was used to cover materials. Shana Roth-Gormley, a member of Hate Free Zone, said the event was intended to help low-income immigrants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The cost of an attorney can run in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
“Recently the cost of filing the N-400 forms was increased to $675,” Roth-Gormley said. This cost is on top of regular lawyer fees.
Most of the people attending the event did not feel comfortable talking about their experiences applying for citizenship. Tilton said this is most likely because it is a trying ordeal. Aside from the stress of not knowing English, the questions on the forms are very personal. Questions include “Have you ever gotten a ticket?” and “Do you have a drinking problem?” Some people have trouble answering questions that require specific details, such as the time and place they received a traffic ticket, because they have been here for 10 or more years. Tilton said these questions require a month, day and year. Many are afraid small infractions will prevent them from gaining citizenship. “They are nervous to identify what may preclude them,” Tilton said.
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