WASHINGTON, DC – On Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Washington, DC Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA-DC) will take part in the eighth annual AILA Citizenship Day, hosting events at nine locations throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Each year in April, at sites across the country, AILA attorneys and other stakeholders provide assistance to lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization. Last year, AILA and its partner “ya es hora ¡Ciudadanía!” held 40 naturalization clinics in 23 states and the District of Columbia serving thousands of immigrants who aspired to become citizens.
The sites below have been confirmed for Citizenship Day 2014 :
Catholic Charities Esperanza Center 430 S. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231 Pre- Registration Required Contact: 443-825-3421 *$50 Fee collected by Catholic Charities
CASA De Maryland 8151 15th Avenue,
Langley Park, MD 20783 Contact: Molly: 240-670-4850 *$25 Fee for CASA membership collected
Jesus House DC 919 Philadelphia Ave
E. Adeboye Hall (L.L)
Silver Spring, MD 20910 Contact: 240-271-0148
FIRN 5999 Harpers Farm Road, E-200 Columbia, MD 21044 Contact: Roselyn:410-992-1923 $20 Fee collected by FIRN
Carlos Rosario International
(Sponsored by Carlos Rosario and CARECEN)
1100 Harvard Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20009 Pre- Registration Required
*$25 Fee will be collected for completed applications *Free to Carlos Rosario Students with valid ID Contact: Rachel @ 202-328-9799 ext. 23
Ethiopian Community Center (Sponsored by Mayor’s Office on African Affairs & ECC)
7603 Georgia Avenue, NW,
Suite 100 Washington, D.C. 20012 Contact: eth@prodigy.net
Chinese Community Church (Sponsored by DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs and Chinatown Service Center)
500 I Street, NW,
Washington D.C 20001 Contact: Ngoc (202)727-3120
Just Neighbors Ministry 5827 Columbia Pike, #320 Falls Church, VA 22041 Pre-Registration required *$20.00 Fee collected by JNM Contact: Kyle-703-979-1240 Ext. 34
Branch Baptist Church 3400 Broad Rock Blvd Richmond, VA 23234 Contact: refugelaw@gmail.com
At each site, a dozen attorneys will be joined by numerous other volunteers and staff to help eligible local immigrants apply for citizenship. Detailed information about registration and documentation requirements is available upon request.
“In discussing the plight of the undocumented and the need for immigration reform, we sometimes forget how many people have come here from other countries not only with lawful status, but also the desire to become citizens,” observed Cynthia Rosenberg, AILA-DC Chair. “Citizenship Day is a wonderful opportunity to highlight how many foreign nationals wish to take this important final step toward joining the American dream.”
AILA Citizenship Day is an award-winning venture, capturing the 2008 Award of Excellence in the Associations Advance America Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership. AILA’s successes with this event are due in large part to the national collaborative relationships that AILA has developed both with community organizations and stakeholders, as well as the USCIS Office of Citizenship. Last year, AILA-DC members co-sponsored local events with seven community-based organizations in the Washington metropolitan area, from Baltimore to Richmond.
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The AILA-DC Chapter represents over 1000 member attorneys in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia 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. Located close to the headquarters offices of the agencies that administer our immigration system, as well as the houses of Congress, our chapter maintains close contact with the lawmakers and officials who have an important impact on our clients’ lives.