Happy Citizenship Day! A letter from Lucia Martel-Dow, Director of the New Americans Campaign

Dear NAC Partners,

September is a time to celebrate the millions of immigrants who have made this country their home. Today, more than 24 million naturalized U.S. citizens live in the United States, each having taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, which we also honor on September 17, Constitution and Citizenship Day. This day reminds us that naturalization strengthens families and communities, and it has always been a cornerstone of our democracy.  

This year, we invite you to hear from Pema Choiden, who came to the United States from Bhutan and proudly shares her gratitude for the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen. Today, more than 11 million lawful permanent residents like Pema remain eligible to apply for naturalization, and your work to support them is more critical than ever.  

Join us in celebrating Citizenship Day by using our Citizenship Day Social Media Toolkit to share stories and inspire others to take the step toward U.S. citizenship.

And there is more to celebrate. Next year, as the United States turns 250 the New Americans Campaign will also be celebrating its 15th year. While our celebration may be a little more modest, both anniversaries serve as an opportunity to recognize that naturalization remains one of the most powerful ways to participate in our democracy and contribute to this country’s success.  

As we commemorate these milestones, we also recognize the challenges ahead. Policy changes and funding cuts risk creating new barriers for immigrants, and many of you are already experiencing these pressures. Citizenship Day reminds us that progress is possible when we work together. Every completed naturalization application, every workshop, and every volunteer effort brings us closer to fulfilling the promise of citizenship.

We hope you can spend some time celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day with colleagues and clients, and we look forward to seeing many of you in October at our NAC Conference to celebrate citizenship and the remarkable work you do every day.

Happy Citizenship Day!