Immigrants who are green card holders will have the opportunity to go to free citizenship screening clinics hosted by the county and governor’s office.
The first clinic is this coming Saturday afternoon at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. But the estimated 45 appointments are already booked. Officials say there will be more clinics at other locations, so those who register now will be waitlisted.
Trust Act Protection
While the clinic is publicized, County Council President Natali Fani-González advises those who may have concerns about ICE showing up, “Don’t let fear be an obstacle.”
“We already passed the Trust Act,” Fani-González said during a press conference Monday. The legislation, approved in February, prohibits federal immigration from using county buildings like libraries for immigration enforcement without a warrant.
“The library is a public building — If they show up, they’re going to need a signed order by a judge to walk in,” Fani-González said.
Leave Family at Home
Those invited to participate are residents who have legal status, said Director Shawn Ellis of the county’s Office of Community Partnerships. But, there are concerns for family members who may come along.
There will be language interpreters, so family members do not have to come and serve as translators.
“If you have family members that don’t have the status that they need, please come alone,” said Naznin Saifi, Esq., executive director for the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center. They want to make sure everybody is safe.
“We really only want the person who’s seeking citizenship to be there. And I know sometimes it’s not just interpretation, it’s the family support. So just be mindful of who you’re bringing with you,” Saifi said.
Services Offered
At the clinic, attorneys will give people free legal advice on whether they can apply for citizenship. They will provide an in-depth screening to make sure there are no barriers.
It is not meant to help with actually filling out a citizenship application but is meant for residents to get advice on whether they can apply. Those who are eligible for citizenship can get help with applications at another event on May 2.
How to Sign Up
Those who did not get into Saturday’s clinic can call the county’s Gilchrist Center at 240-777-4940 so organizers can keep track of demand and decide where the next clinic should take place.
In order to attend the free clinics, residents must have green card status, be at least 18 years old when they would apply for naturalization, and live in Montgomery County. Residents can see more details on the registration webpage.
Becoming a Citizen
About 150,000 green card holders in Maryland are eligible to apply for citizenship, said Sonia Lin, legal director with the Maryland Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
The Gilchrist Center already runs citizenship preparation classes. The big difference with the new clinics is capacity, Ellis said. Classes usually only had about 20-25 slots.
“This is about making sure that we are supporting our immigrant community with every single power we have,” Fani-González said. “And the power of helping somebody become a United States citizen, that’s the ultimate thing.”
