Cicero Citizenship program helps 270 immigrants become citizens

Arcadio Delgado, The Town of Cicero Director of Citizenship, introduced some of the more than 270 immigrants who became citizens of the United States this year as a result of the Citizenship Committee’s work, guidance and education programs during the regular meeting of the Town of Cicero Board of Trustees on Tuesday June 12, 2018.

President Larry Dominick has always supported Cicero’s immigrant community and valued the many contributions they have brought to the Town of Cicero.

“Immigrants have built this great nation and this great town since the beginning, and we have the responsibility to help them become part of mainstream America so they can have a voice in their government,” President Dominick said.

About two dozen immigrants who were sworn in as citizens this year returned to Cicero Town Hall Tuesday, June 12, 2018 to thank officials of the Town of Cicero for providing the guidance and education to help become U.S. citizens. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero and Gerardo Lopez.

Cicero’s Citizenship Program made it possible for over 270 Cicero residence become U.S. Citizens, with over 100 still pending in their process of completing their citizenship application.

The program not only helps residents become US citizens, but also assist them in renewing their residential status with the goal of becoming of US citizens in the future. The Cicero Citizenship Program is at no cost for Cicero residents, other then fees paid directly to the Federal Government, US Department of Homeland Security.

The program includes filing process, citizenship classes, and pretesting of US citizenship candidates.

For more information please contact Arcadio Delgado, Citizenship Program Director at (708) 656-36– Ext. 545.

New citizen Vilma Lopez said she waited 33 years before making her decision to take this big step forward. She credits the Town of Cicero for helping to make this achievement possible

“I am very proud to be a citizen of the United States and I am very proud of the President of Cicero [Larry Dominick], Arcadio Delgado, and the teachers who conducted the citizenship classes because they put their hearts into this for us immigrants,” Lopez said.

The Director of Cicero Citizenship Program, Arcadio Delgado, has been a community activist for years and is grateful for all the support from President Dominick and the Board.

“This is an open enrollment program because we would like to give everyone the opportunity to become citizens. For some people it might takes 2 months or for some others it takes 6 months to complete. At the end, it is a constant cycle,” Delgado said.

Attending the celebration Tuesday were members of the Citizenship Committee staff including: Jorge Navia, Assistant, Rosalinda Ramos, Assistant, Lexi Gutierrez, summer intern.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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