We Are America Alliance

CHICAGO, IL – On September 10th, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) released a report that reveals a shocking decline in the number of U.S. citizenship applications in the last year. The report is called Priced Out: U.S. Citizenship, a privilege for the rich and well-educated? Exorbitant fees that had gone up by 610% in the last 10 years and the change in new citizenship test primarily impact legal immigrants of low-income and less-educated backgrounds, making U.S. citizenship a privilege for the rich and well educated.

Just a few short weeks ago, immigration marches were carried out throughout the country. May 1st is a day of action and activism for immigrants and our allies across the country. One of our WAAA partners, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and their New American Democracy Project (NADP), set forth a plan of action that began on May 1st and culminates in an aggressive GOTV strategy in the November elections.

One of our WAAA partners, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and their New American Democracy Project (NADP), set forth a plan of action that began on May 1st and culminates in an aggressive GOTV strategy in the November elections. In 2006, the NADP  registered 15,556 new immigrant voters, recruited 1,552 and mobilized 40,000 people to the polls. Also of note,  NADP assisted with the efforts of 8,000 to become U.S. citizens.
 
The NADP’s goals for 2008 are just  as paramount. Beginning with New American’s Democracy Day, on June 28th, NADP will register 20,000 new voters, drive 50,000 new and occasional immigrant voters to the polls on Election Day and will recruit 2,000 Election Day volunteers. They will also help 10,000 immigrants gain their citizenship through the New Americans Initiative.