For Wojciech Zolnowsky — our site leader in Detroit — there’s no better time than now to become a citizen.
In an opinion piece published in the Arab-American News, one of the most prominent Arabic media outlets in Michigan, Wojciech broke down the reasons why Arab-American legal permanent residents should take their first step towards citizenship with the New Americans Campaign:
Why follow through on citizenship now? Start with money and power.First, the money: On the whole, naturalized citizens make more — a new citizen sees an average boost in individual earning of 8 to 11 percent. That makes naturalization a golden opportunity for the entire U.S. economy, which could see growth of $21 billion to $45 billion if all eligible immigrants become citizens.Second, the power: New citizens can help steer our country, state and cities in the right direction. We are just beginning a critical election year, with a key governor’s race and important congressional elections coming up. Citizenship gives you a voice on big challenges such as health care, the economy, foreign policy and immigration — not to mention numerous local issues that affect us. Citizens have the responsibility and opportunity to elect the right men and women to handle those challenges in the coming years.On a more practical level, upcoming changes to the citizenship application form offer an incentive to apply for citizenship now. In coming months, the N-400 form is expected to double in length. Although citizenship will remain achievable, applying for it could be more time-consuming. Thankfully, that change is still a few months away.
Check out the full story at the Arab-American News and learn more about the work of the Detroit New Americans Campaign collaborative.