Immigrants in Greater Boston contribute $103 billion annually to the region’s economy, according to a report by Boston Indicators (via WBUR). Although they make up 21% of the population, immigrants account for 25% of the labor market and 28% of business owners. These figures underscore the crucial role immigrants play in the city’s economy and community. Yet, resources to help them navigate the complex journey to citizenship are limited. Non-profit organizations like Project Citizenship are stepping up to fill this gap, benefiting both the immigrant community and the city of Boston.
On April 27th, Project Citizenship, a nonprofit that provides free, high-quality legal services to immigrants, partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement for its annual Citizenship Day. According to Project Citizenship, “over 400 permanent residents were registered to start their journey to become U.S. citizens” at the Reggie Lewis Track Center in Roxbury. To assist these aspiring citizens, more than 100 volunteers—including lawyers, law students, community members, and Project Citizenship staff—worked together at various stations throughout the event.
Aspiring citizens arrived at their scheduled appointments and began the Application Assistance process, where a volunteer guided them through the hundreds of questions required by the application—many of which can be confusing or difficult to answer without assistance. A licensed volunteer lawyer then conducted a thorough review of their application to ensure the highest chance of acceptance. After completing this process, participants had the opportunity to learn about financial aid options available to them, including programs from the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance.
During checkout, participants were introduced to a variety of support programs, such as English For New Bostonians and the Mayor’s Office of Worker Empowerment. These programs offered additional resources to help permanent residents on their path to citizenship.
By the end of the day, aspiring citizens left with completed applications and valuable information about programs available to support them—all at no cost. Participants like Claudette, a grandmother who arrived in the U.S. in 1971, shared how helpful it was to be taken “question by question” by a volunteer. Christian, a young engineer and father living in Winthrop, echoed this sentiment, expressing his gratitude for the volunteers’ support. Ting, a young mother from China who arrived in 2014, felt a sense of “official validation” for herself and her children.
Project Citizenship provides consultations like these year-round, but Citizenship Day is their largest event. Speaking with some of the participants at the event, it was clear that this day held immense significance for them. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of anticipation, hope, and relief as people took an important step toward securing their place in the country they now call home.
Volunteers, too, found the experience rewarding. Paul McAlarney, a recent UMass Law graduate, participated for the second time. He shared how meaningful it was to learn the stories of the individuals he worked with and noted the flaws he observed in the immigration system. He pointed out that just being arrested, not convicted, is recorded in the application and criticized the excessive scrutiny of applicants’ family histories—an often difficult task for many immigrants.
The challenges of the immigration process that Paul highlighted are precisely what Project Citizenship aims to address. Despite the “broken” aspects of the system, organizations like Project Citizenship play a vital role in helping migrants navigate these obstacles and achieve their dream of becoming U.S. citizens.
Ivy Leaguers: Stop Sprinting and Take a Break
The Olympics Is Inherently Political
