Washington, DC - The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) was selected by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expand and introduce citizenship programs to Legal Permanent Residents in four cities in the United States.
CLINIC was one of only seven national organizations chosen under the USCIS Citizenship and Integration grant program to offer naturalization and citizenship services in communities that currently lack or have limited resources. CLINIC, a network of more than 195 nonprofit immigration programs, has partnered with Immigration Legal Services in Stockton, CA; Catholic Social Services of Macomb & Lapeer Counties in Clinton Township, MI; Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program in Buffalo, NY and Refugee Resettlement Services in Cleveland, OH, all emerging cities for immigrants seeking citizenship services.
“As immigrants settle into new gateway cities like Cleveland, Macomb County, Buffalo and Stockton, it is important that services are available to ease their transition and that they are educated on opportunities for engagement,” said Maria M. Odom, CLINIC executive director. “CLINIC and its affiliates are committed to introducing and improving services to immigrants that would help them to participate and contribute to their communities.”
CLINIC will work with the programs to develop English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) citizenship classes and civic education programs; to promote naturalization and immigrant integration; and to provide guidance and technical assistance to create and strengthen immigration legal services programs that would expand the availability of naturalization services.
In addition to CLINIC’s national award, five CLINIC affiliates were selected to provide locally based citizenship preparation programs. These affiliates include Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc, Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc., Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth, Inc, Catholic Charities of Green Bay, WI, Catholic Charities Legal Services of Miami, Catholic Charities of Orange County, Inc., and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama.
To see the full list of USCIS grant recipients, click here.
September 20, 2010
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