Stronger Together: Fighting for Our Community

Amid partisan gridlock, a government shutdown, and growing economic uncertainty, we must never lose sight of what truly makes our country strong - the people who still believe in its promise.

Nearly nine million lawful permanent residents are eligible to pursue U.S. citizenship - and nearly half are Latino. For these aspiring citizens, naturalization means better opportunities for their families and a stronger voice in our democracy.

But today, that dream is at risk. Harmful changes to the naturalization process - some already in effect and others still being proposed - threaten to create unfair obstacles. These include a longer and more difficult civics test, unnecessary application requirements, invasive demands for personal information, and even social media scrutiny with no clear standards.

At NALEO Educational Fund, we are fighting back. We are working with Members of Congress to stop harmful policies that would delay or deny eligible residents their chance at citizenship. We are directly opposing these changes - because they are designed to discourage applicants, slow down processing, and keep families from achieving the dream of citizenship. Our advocacy makes clear: these barriers are unacceptable, and we will not allow them to stand unchallenged.

We are also pushing to preserve programs that provide English, civics, and application support for immigrants who want to fully participate in American life.

At the same time, we are empowering community members directly. Through our 1-888-839-8682 bilingual hotline, we have answered more than 11,000 calls in 2025, guiding families through the application process. This month alone, our application assistance workshops helped over one hundred residents apply for citizenship - for free. And through information sessions at libraries, schools, and community centers, we are ensuring more people know their rights and resources.

We are also investing more than $500,000 annually to expand the ability of local organizations to provide free and low-cost naturalization assistance, thereby strengthening the entire field of immigrant integration.

This is how NALEO Educational Fund leads-with advocacy that protects our community and engagement that empowers it. Together, we are opening doors to opportunity and building a stronger democracy.