Thousands Will Receive Help from AILA Members to Apply for Citizenship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Thousands Will Receive Help from AILA Members to Apply for Citizenship

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is proud to sponsor the 8th annual Citizenship Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014. This annual event brings together AILA attorneys and other stakeholders to provide assistance to lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization. AILA partners with "ya es hora ¡Ciudadanía!" again this year; the effort will result in a total of more than 50 naturalization clinics in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

"I know from personal experience how rewarding it is to help qualified applicants take that next step toward realizing their American Dream by applying for citizenship," said AILA President Doug Stump. He continued, "Helping aspiring citizens, who have waited for years to have this chance, is incredibly inspiring."

AILA's Citizenship Day has been recognized with awards and accolades over the years as it brings together attorneys and community stakeholders in a one-day, multi-site event to provide free or low-cost assistance to eligible legal permanent residents who wish to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The event is made possible through the strong partnerships between AILA chapters across the country and the grassroots campaign "ya es hora ¡Ciudadanía!" In 2014, AILA Citizenship Day celebrates its 8th anniversary as a nationwide event and its 6th year working with the campaign. Last year, at events in 23 states and the District of Columbia, thousands of immigrants were served.

"AILA is proud of the work we do on Citizenship Day but we don't do it alone. The relationships we have with community organizations and stakeholders, as well as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of Citizenship and the Department of Justice's Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices ensure that this event is a success," said Susan Timmons, Associate Director of AILA's Practice and Professionalism Center.

Citizenship Day clinics will be held in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. A list of clinic coordinators and their email addresses is available after this release.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.