Spotlight: CUNY Citizenship Now!

Throughout July, Broadway Stages celebrates America, pride of place, and the important role New York plays in the character and culture of our great nation. This week we shine the spotlight on the CUNY Citizenship Now! program.

Ask people what they think is the American Dream, and you will get many different answers. But for some, the American Dream is simply to be an American citizen. For many, New York City is the place where that dream begins. But the path to citizenship is long, complicated, and potentially very expensive. For the past 25 years, the City University of New York (CUNY) Citizenship Now! program has been helping as immigrants journey on that path.

CUNY Citizenship Now! is the largest university legal assistance program in the nation. Their attorneys and paralegals provide free and confidential citizenship and immigration law services to more than 12,000 individuals annually. The services they provide are open to the public based on availability. There is no minimum income requirement.

The program offers legal services, such as applications for citizenship, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and family-based petitions.

In addition to legal services, civics classes prepare permanent residents for the naturalization exam. CUNY Citizenship Now! partners with Hostos Community College and the New York Historical Society to provide these classes.

Services are offered at 6 full-time centers and more than 45 part-time locations. In addition, they have assisted more than 170,000 by phone (phone numbers are available on the page linked above). On Saturdays, twice a month, they bring free citizenship services and workshops about immigrant rights, business creation, and finances to a New York City neighborhood. For more information about upcoming events, visit the Events page on their website.

Chinyere Melville said, “As a volunteer and a naturalized citizen, I get to witness the worry and joy that I once felt. It’s my goal that each participant leaves the event one step closer to reaching their dream of U.S. citizenship.” If you would like to help, you can volunteer or donate to the cause.

DACA Citywide Event Participant Ana Mejia said, “I was granted DACA, and now I have a social security card and a work permit. Today, I find myself looking into college, looking for a job, and entering adulthood without letting the fear of my immigration status stop me from dreaming.”

At Broadway Stages, artists bring dreams to life. At CUNY Citizenship Now!, they make dreams a reality.