If you logged onto social media last week, you may have seen Martha’s Vineyard trending—not for its upscale festivals or elite summer escapes, but for something far more sobering. Feeds were flooded with images of working-class immigrants fleeing in panic, many with nothing but the clothes on their backs, after an unexpected ICE raid swept through the island. Among them were even legal green card holders—people who have lived and worked there for years—fleeing not because of guilt, but because they know what many don’t: a green card isn’t the finish line. Citizenship is. In an era marked by political volatility and growing anti-immigrant sentiment, the urgency to pursue U.S. citizenship has never been greater—especially for immigrants from historically marginalized communities.
“Citizenship is the ultimate defense against Deportation” – Zenobia Lai, Executive Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), more than 12 million lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are currently eligible to apply for citizenship. Yet each year, only a fraction do. At the beginning of May, Houston Community Media hosted a news briefing that spotlighted a renewed campaign for citizenship in the Greater Houston area.
In the Houston area, an estimated 300,000 immigrants are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. However, less than 10% of these eligible residents complete the naturalization process each year. Whether due to financial barriers, confusion about the process, or fear of reprisal, many delay. But experts and advocates alike agree: waiting may carry more risk now than reward.
Multiple agencies partnered together to launch 2 pilot programs that will result in raising awareness around the process and motivate/assist immigrants in their pursuit of citizenship. When asked about the biggest challenges on the path to citizenship, the panel pointed to two key barriers: language and financial hardship. According to Luis Garcia-Alvarez, President & CEO of System for Education Empowerment and Success or (SEDES), a primary partner in the pilot program, his group are seeing a huge amount of “Notorio Fraud”.
Notario fraud occurs when individuals falsely pose as legal experts—often using the title “notario”—to charge for immigration services they’re not legally allowed to provide, misleading immigrants who may not understand the difference between notaries in the U.S. and those in some Latin American countries. That’s just within the latin communities, language, fraud, and the fear of the unknown, is also found to be a mountain to climb in the citizenship process in the Asian, Middle eastern, and African communities.
Angie Dupree, a Citizenship Coordinator for National Partnership for New Americans or (NPNA) spoke to how they are planning to combat the language barriers by educating the community on the fact that if you have been a legal permanent resident for 50 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least 20 years, or those who are 55 or older with at least 15 years of LPR, are exempt from the English part of the citizen test. What about finance?
Zenobia Lai, Executive Director of Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, highlighted the difficulty many families face in saving the $750 per-person application fee for citizenship. To help ease this burden, the Houston Endowment launched the “Give Citizenship a Boost” initiative, which partners with nine local organizations—including Texas Southern University—to provide financial assistance and support throughout the citizenship process.
The process of becoming a citizen is more than a milestone; for many, it’s a matter of long-term stability. Here’s why.
1. Citizenship Is the Ultimate Defense Against Deportation
While permanent residency allows individuals to live and work in the U.S., it does not guarantee the same level of security as citizenship. Permanent residents can be deported for certain legal infractions, lose their status if they spend too much time outside the U.S., or be affected by policy shifts. By contrast, citizenship provides the strongest legal protection available under U.S. immigration law.
2. Citizens Have a Voice in Government
Only citizens can vote in federal elections. At a time when local and national policies are increasingly shaped by electoral outcomes, having a voice at the ballot box is a form of civic power. Especially when Immigrants constitute 31.0% of Houston’s employed labor force and represent 35.5% of workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. Yet these communities—immigrants from African, Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American backgrounds—have historically been left out of political conversations. Citizenship is a pathway to greater representation.
3. Citizenship Expands Opportunities
Citizenship opens access to certain public benefits, federal jobs, and scholarships that are not available to non-citizens. For young immigrants like Austra Zapata—an Afro-Latina from Honduras who arrived in the U.S. at age 10, became a citizen at 15, and now serves as the Naturalization Coordinator for Harris County—citizenship represents more than legal status; it’s a pathway to stability, empowerment, and long-term investment in their future. It also allows for easier travel and the ability to sponsor additional family members for immigration benefits.
4. Policy Changes Can Impact Residency
Over the past decade, immigration law and enforcement priorities have fluctuated across presidential administrations. From changes in public charge rules to temporary suspensions of certain visa programs, immigrants have often found themselves in uncertain territory. Experts say citizenship offers the most consistent safeguard against policy swings.
5. Resources Are Available to Help
Organizations across the country are offering citizenship clinics, legal aid, and financial assistance. In Houston, many offer services in multiple languages free of charge or very low cost. Dedre Smith, Executive director of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend shared how her organization formed from older women seeing a need for literacy in Fort Bend County and almost 40 years later they are still graduating citizens with 13 U.S. citizens graduating last year alone.
“The Green Card simply isn’t enough!”
“This is an exciting time, we know there is so much fear with deportation but this campaign for citizenship makes it exciting”. – Jannette Diep, Executive Director for Boat People SOS Houston
WHY NOW?
Organizations on the front lines working in harmony to aid in citizenship. That means we are currently seeing the most resources and aid available right now at this time. While seeking citizenship is a deeply personal decision—and one that depends on individual circumstances, it is also a step toward greater inclusion and protection., especially those from marginalized or minority backgrounds.
As the 2024 election cycle brought renewed attention to issues like immigration enforcement, education access, and economic equity, being a citizen ensures that communities most affected by these decisions have a say in what happens next.
If you’re eligible, or know someone who is, NOW is the time to act!
For More information and helpful resources on citizenship and naturalization can be accessed through the following websites: Become a Citizen Today, Naturalize Houston, and the U.S. Citizenship Guide.