Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Helps LPRS Become Citizens (and Voters)

Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky and Chicago civic and political leaders will join hundreds of volunteers, leaders and advocates of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) on Saturday, June 28 at Foreman High School (235 N LeClaire Ave) to assist legal permanent residents applying for citizenship and to celebrate new Americans who have obtained citizenship over the past months.

In addition, ICIRR along with national immigrant rights organizations including the Center for Community Change, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, National Council of La Raza, NDN, America’s Voice, United Food and Commercial Workers and the We Are America Alliance will be launching the “New Americans Vote 2008 - Our Vote is Power” campaign, which combines training, organizing and electoral civic engagement targeting the immigrant community. For the first time the training will include participants from 14 other states across the country including Florida, California, Colorado, New York, Nebraska, Oregon, an more.

Public officials and volunteers will help those wishing to apply for citizenship with the process and the forms. A celebratory rally will be held to congratulate those who have already completed the process.  Volunteers will be on hand to help New Americans become registered voters. And 60 fellows will be presented before they leave to a 6 day intensive boot camp training to mobilize immigrants to vote on Election Day, register new immigrant voters, and recruit thousands of volunteers to actively participate in the campaign nationally.

“The immigrant vote will be crucial this Election year, and immigrants are eager to show their political power by voting in large numbers this November,” said Lawrence Benito, ICIRR Associate Director.

KJ