Immigrants respond to Trump by seeking citizenship, right to vote

There are a lot of good reasons for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. These include the ability to sponsor family members for permanent residency, the ability to travel outside the U.S. for longer periods of time and the ability to receive federal financial aid for college. Today, for many immigrants in Miami, these reasons take second place to more urgent need — the right to vote.

Many immigrants are responding to the candidacy of Donald Trump by applying for citizenship. Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric has caused a great deal of fear in the immigrant community, and many are responding by seeking the right to vote in order to protect themselves and their families. Mexican consulates around the country are urging U.S. citizens who came here from Mexico to make their voices heard by voting in the election this fall.

Citizenship workshops and clinics are drawing hundreds of people eager to begin the naturalization process. But they are up against a deadline — voters must be registered for by Oct. 1 in order to vote in the presidential election this year. The application process usually takes about six months to complete.

At the Miami law firm of Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt PA, we understand the fear and anxiety many immigrants to the U.S. are facing today. We are here to help, whether your need is a visa, fighting deportation, or obtaining asylum, permanent residency or U.S. citizenship. We have years of experience in navigating clients through the mysteries of U.S. immigration law. You can learn more about the services we provide on our Immigration Attorney web page.

Source: Miami Herald, “Dump Trump: Immigrants rush to seek citizenship, right to vote,” Diane Smith, March 28, 2016