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Rep. Gutiérrez Continues Mobilization Work as Latino Citizenship Surges


Rep. Gutiérrez Continues Mobilization Work as Latino Citizenship Surges

“Citizenship and civic participation are just hot right now.”

Chicago –(ENEWSPF)–May 2, 2016.   Today, Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez participated in a citizenship event hosted by the Mexican consulate in Chicago and by local organizations participating in the New American Democracy Campaign (http://bit.ly/NADCHomeENG | http://bit.ly/NADCHomeESP).  The Congressman spoke to volunteers and prospective citizens who gathered for a half-day workshop on Saturday morning.

“The national goal is to help 1 million eligible immigrants become citizens this year,” said Rep. Gutiérrez.  “I am seeing first hand at events like this across the country that you could host a citizenship workshop every weekend in Chicago or in other immigrant-rich areas and still not keep up with the demand.  Citizenship and civic participation are just hot right now.”

Under the auspices of the “Stand Up to Hate” tour announced in January, Rep. Gutiérrez has participated in citizenship workshops hosted by the National Partnership for New Americans and other members of the coalition of organizations helping eligible immigrants become citizens this year.  He has participated in events in Colorado, New York, Nevada, and Illinois (http://www.naturalizenow.org/ | http://www.hagaseciudadano.com/), with additional events planned in May, including Virginia.

“People are hungry for citizenship, but that is just part of the Latino civic engagement story,” said Rep. Gutiérrez.  “Latino citizens turning 18 and freshly engaged first-time voters, that is the bulk of the growth in the electorate we will see this year.  Tsunami is the wrong term because tsunamis are usually a bad thing, but this is definitely a surge.  It is energizing when you see so many people eager to participate in democracy.”

Rep. Gutiérrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is a Member of the House Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Source: http://www.gutierrez.house.gov

 

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