Email link

Respond to editor

Read comments (8)

Share link

Workshop to ease path for prospective citizens

Thursday, August 14, 2008

El Centro Latino of Shelbyville and Bedford County and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) have announced a citizenship workshop on Saturday, Aug. 23.

The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 100 North Cannon Blvd. Legal experts and trained community volunteers will gather for the one-day event to assist Bedford County's permanent residents in the process of becoming American citizens.

"For those who are able to get into the citizenship path, the process is becoming more and more difficult and costly," said Miguel Gonzalez, President of El Centro Latino. "However, as word got out about the citizenship workshop, the community immediately showed an interest."

"People still want to become citizens, despite harder tests and higher fees," said Mr. Gonzalez.

The announcement stated that the immigrant community is facing new barriers to becoming citizens, due to a 69 percent increase in application fees and the new citizenship test.

The workshop "will provide an opportunity for both organizations and volunteers from the community to work together to help make the difficult process of becoming a U.S. citizen easier and more affordable to Bedford County's New American community."

All eligible permanent residents participating in the one-day workshop will receive assistance in completing the Application for Naturalization (N-400), free consultation with immigration attorneys, as well as information about English classes, citizenship classes, and other community services.

For more information about the workshop, contact Luci Taylor at (931) 703-6764 or Gonzalez at (931) 703-3745.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Who will reassure us there will be NO illegal immigrants here? And what is the "New American community"? If these immigrants are not of the legal kind then wouldnt this be against the law, should ICE be notified?

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 12:49 PM

Greasemonkey, everytime there is a mention of anybody from another country on this website, you start going off about illegal immigration. I agree that illegal immigration is one of the biggest problems (and national threats) that our nation is facing today, but this story is about immigrants that want to follow the completely legal proceedures to become citizens. If it is all legal, what issue do you have with it?

-- Posted by whatda on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 12:58 PM

When reading this article, I remembered how proud my mom was the day she became a naturalized citizen. I was in the third grade and got to take the day off from school to go with her and my dad to watch the process.

Anyway, having a class in Bedford County to help immigrants to become citizens is a really good thing.

-- Posted by cfrich on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 1:02 PM

Could it be that they are affiliated with La Raza and they state on their own website that they dont care whether someone is here illegally or not. You may not care about our town being run into the ground by illegals, but I do. Its these groups like La Raza and TIRRC that are supporting illegal immigration, and I guess you can add the Chamber of Commerce to that list too.

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 3:06 PM

If one happens to look over the web site for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, its very easy to see these people are proponents of illegal aliens.

One of their pet terms is "undocumented immigrant".

Federal Law states you will be documented to be a legal immigrant. If you are not documented then you are illegal.

Seems like TIRRC is very tightly tied to the ACLU too.

Maybe WE should just all show up at the workshop.

They shouldnt have any issue with LEGAL US citizens being there should they ??

Or do they ??

I wonder how many other people are gonna call ICE and inform them of a potential gathering of illegals at our Chamber of Commerce ??

To save ya having to hunt up the number :

the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's toll-free tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE, 1-866-347-2423

-- Posted by BobM on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 8:41 PM

Maybe we can get them bus tickets back south of the border.

-- Posted by Chef Boy R.D. on Thu, Aug 14, 2008, at 9:09 PM

greasemonkey, read the article carefully before posting uneducated comments. The workshop is for people who want to become citizens. A person who is here illegally cannot become a citizen. To be eligible for citizenship, a person must live in the US for at least 5 years as a permanent resident. Go ahead, call ICE!

-- Posted by marym27 on Fri, Aug 15, 2008, at 3:32 PM

We must rid this town of illegal forieners. I have owned my house here since 1995, and I will not let these liberal mayors and city & county commissioners continue with this .

read story below.

Rhode Island's governor today is looking to replace eight members of its commission on Hispanic affairs. Those eight commissioners yesterday resigned in protest over the governor's order to crack down on illegal immigration. Governor Donald Carcieri issued his illegal immigration control order back in March. Among its provisions are requirements that state police check the immigration status of all who are arrested.

Governor Carcieri said the state is facing a massive budget deficit and illegal aliens create a financial strain on state resources. The governor said he will not rescind that order and he will fill the vacancies that are now on that commission. El Centro Latino tried too get this new rule overturned there in R.I. now there here with many Rich lib's. ready to continue have illegals clean there houses. and whaterev. while us homeowners taxes pay for the welfare programs.

El Centro Latino is a front of a socialist mexican goverment. Our site at american patrol . com. GO there and learn the truth about this ford foundation fundid group. american patrol will be there to ask questions and report too our web site what they have Really found out. Remember, the Chamber of commerce that is pushing for MORE illegals to work here. and not americans. there on the illegals side not bedford county, again Google Chamber of commerce and see for who they are fighting for. homeowners side NOT. Illegal immigrants yes.

get the facts.

Get the message, American Patrol minutemen wil be signing up those who want to fight illegal immigration during the weeks to come. stay tuned.

stay informed. stay safe.

J. S. American Patrol Minuteman

Bedford County TN 37160

-- Posted by american patrol minuteman on Sun, Aug 17, 2008, at 11:11 AM