For you and your family
Context
Greater Houston, is home to approximately 360,000 adults eligible to become citizens. According to the most recent Migration Policy Institute Report, 80 percent of those eligible have lived in the United States for more than 10 years, and 40 percent have lived in the country for more than 20 years.
In Houston, 94% of the ETN (Eligible to Naturalize) population is primarily concentrated in Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County. The top five countries of origin for this population are Mexico, India, Cuba, Vietnam, and China, according to USCIS data.
Research shows that naturalization leads to broad community benefits, such as levels of civic engagement, increased income and workforce loyalty and retention.
How might we significantly increase the number of eligible people who naturalize each year in Houston?
While many strategies have been implemented to increase naturalization, this initiative stands out by honoring Houston’s diverse immigrant communities as lived experience experts, placing their voices and insights at the centre of the process, from idea generation to real-world testing of emerging solutions. Over the past year, the team engaged more than 150 community members across 50+ in-depth sessions, listening closely to their experiences, questions, and roadblocks related to becoming a U.S. citizen.
This was a deliberate process designed to move beyond typical outreach, to build trust, elevate voices that are too often left out, and co-create responses with those directly impacted. Sessions prioritized safety, representation, and accessibility. Participants were compensated for their time and expertise, and all insights were gathered anonymously to protect privacy.
The work was further shaped by a standing Citizenship Advisory Committee (CAC), comprised of local leaders in the naturalization ecosystem, ensuring a range of perspectives informed each step. Out of this collaborative effort, several promising pilot solutions emerged, set to launch in May 2025 and wrap in early August. These include:
Navigator and Support
Circles Programs aim to provide support to over 400 Eligible to Naturalize (ETN) individuals. The pilot programs will involve three primary partners:
BPSOS-Houston,
Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, and System for Education Empowerment and Success (SEDES).
Additionally, the program will be supported by eight distinct supporting partners:
Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM), Woori Juntos, CO-AFRO Community Centre, FAM Houston – Pamija Project, Texas Familias Council, Community Family Center, FLAS Inc., and Living Hope.
Citizenship Awareness Campaign
Launch of a targeted, localized campaign to raise awareness about the naturalization process, providing clear, accessible information to encourage engagement and provide access to relevant and reliable resources. In partnership with American Community Media and Big Oak Tree Media, the campaign centers around inspiring stories from naturalized citizens to motivate individuals to pursue citizenship. It also includes practical, user-friendly tools to support citizenship journeys and highlight the many Benefits of becoming a citizen.
BENEFITS OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP
In the U.S., being a citizen and a Green Card holder come with different rights and benefits. This document highlights some of the benefits that individuals eligible to naturalize (ETNs) gain if they choose to become citizens, as well as the limitations of holding Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in key areas:
→ Family
→ Travel
→ Education
→ Civic Engagement
→ Healthcare
Understanding these differences is crucial, especially for Green Card holders considering citizenship. Taking this step will expand their rights and provide greater stability as they make the U.S. their home.
It’s time to become a citizen and begin this journey together!
FAMILY
US Citizenship
Can sponsor a broader range of family members, including parents and married children.
Spouses, minor children, and parents have the fastest processing times, with fewer limits on how many can apply each year.
U.S. citizenship for children under 18 who legally live with a parent who is receiving citizenship
Green Card Holder (LPR)
Can sponsor a limited number of family members, including spouse and unmarried children under 21, but with limited visas available per year.
TRAVEL
US Citizenship
Freedom to travel internationally for family visits, vacations, or extended stays with no restrictions on re-entry
Protection and assistance from a U.S. embassy while traveling abroad Eliminates the risk of deportation
Green Card Holder (LPR)
Limited travel time-must spend at least 6 months per year in the U.S.
Does not receive protection or assistance from a U.S. embassy while abroad Deportation is possible
20M38
EDUCATION
US Citizenship
Access to federal, non-federal, and private scholarships
Green Card Holder (LPR)
Limited access to federal and non-federal scholarships
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
US Citizenship
Right to vote in local, state, and national elections
Right to run for elected office at the local and state level (excluding President and Vice President)
Right to serve on a jury and participate in the judicial system
Right to safely participate in civic and advocacy activities
Green Card Holder (LPR)
Cannot vote
Cannot run for office
HEALTHCARE
US Citizenship
Full access to public health benefits like Medicaid without the restrictions non-citizens face
Eligibility for social programs like Food Stamps, which offer financial assistance for nutritious food
Green Card Holder (LPR)
Restrictions on using Medicaid
Restrictions and no full access to social security programs
Benefits are subject to administration changes in public charge.
CITIZENSHIP RESOURCES
Citizenship Navigator and Support Circle Program Partners
Boat People SOS: non-profit social and legal services provider whose purpose is to empower, organize, and equip immigrant communities in their pursuit of liberty and dignity. Their branch provides education, information, and direct assistance to immigrant and refugee families on potential health and legal issues prevalent in the immigrant communities.
Services: Health awareness prevention programs, legal services for low-income families and victims of violence and crime, ESL, citizenship, and digital literacy classes, senior services programs to encourage community engagement, advocacy, and volunteerism.
Literacy Council of Fort Bend: Partners with a variety of volunteer groups, faith-based entities, and non-profit organizations.
Services; Adult education and literacy programs in local communities across Fort Bend county in order to assist individuals with accessing services in their own neighbourhood.
System for Education Empowerment and Success (SEDES): Promotes economic growth inspired by Confucius’s famous quote, “Give a bowl of rice to a man, and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice, and you will save his life”,
Services: job skills training courses (ESL, Financial Literacy, GED, Electrical Training/Licensing, and Computer Literacy) for adults and young adults. As well as college and career readiness and awareness interventions for adolescents that SEDES’s participants increase their income, they receive instruction needed to jump from minimum wage to better jobs and post-secondary education careers.
Citizenship Navigator and Support Circle Supporting Partners
Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM): To build stable families, a dynamic workforce and vibrant communities…together!
Services: basic needs and public assistance enrollment, disaster assistance, employment services, financial empowerment, immigration legal services, literacy advance services, physical and mental health
Woori Juntos: (Pronounced: Woo-ree Hoon-tohs) nonprofit that empowers impacted Asian and im/migrant communities across Texas through culturally competent services, education, organizing, and advocacy.
Services: citizenship navigation services, social navigation services, and translation services.
CO-AFRO Community Center: also known as the Congolese and African Community Center, is the “Home of Diversity.”
Their center was initiated to provide a place where communities can come together to address significant challenges, decrease obstacles, and Increase opportunities.
Services:emotional and physical support, technology training, college and career preparation, community engagement, and mentorship.
FAM Houston-Pamoja Project: working for justice by building empowered community among refugees, immigrants and local Houstonians. Pamoja meaning “together” in Swahili, Pamoja pairs newcomer and Houstonian families to form relationships, engage in mutual learning, and walk alongside one another through life’s ups and downs.
Texas Familias Council: The mission of the Council is to support families and inspire healthy, connected communities.
Services: efforts focus on guiding emerging communities by connecting resources and identifying existing talents from within. Engaging local leadership on issues impacting the well-being of families is a key element of all efforts.
Community Family Centre: empowers families with the tools for self-sufficiency, fostering a safe and supportive environment where children thrive and adults grow. CFC achieves this by strengthening partnerships, promoting cultural understanding, and encouraging community empowerment.
Services: Family Support Services, Education and Workforce Services, Youth Services Program, and Early Childhood Education.
FLAS inc: their mission is to offer culturally affirming, high-quality, and caring service to promote healthy Latino communities in the Greater Houston Area.
Services: health, youth empowerment, support groups and food pantry.
Living Hope: Their mission is to affirm the dignity and improve the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities and their families; particularly those who use a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury or disease, as well as immigrants and refugees. They work at the intersection of the rights of people with disabilities, health justice, and the rights of vulnerable people and workers, providing medical supplies and equipment, as well as spaces for leadership development and a community where everyone can feel included, respected, and loved.
Services: Medical supplies and equipment, membership development, community education, advocacy and civic engagement, economic opportunities, disaster preparation and relief and culture and recreation.
Organizations providing citizenship support:
| Legal support | English and civic classes |
| Baker Ripley
Bonding Against Adversity BPSOS-Houston Chinese Community Center Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Earl Carl Institute – Texas Southern University Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project Houston Volunteer Lawyers Justice for All Immigrants Memorial Assistance Ministries NALEO Educational Fund OCA Greater Houston YMCA International Services |
Baker Ripley
Bilingual Education Institute” Bonding Against Adversity Chinese Community Centre Centre for Career Transformation Harris County Public Library Houston Public Library Memorial Assistance Ministries Woori Juntos YMCA |
Information about citizenship and local events
Become a Citizen Today
becomeacitizentoday.com
Naturalize Now Houston
houston.naturalizenow.org/
Citizenship resources in Houston: https://houston.naturalizenow.org/resources/
Citizenship events:
USA Hello
Citizenship Guide:
https://usahello.org/citizenship/prepare/
Civic Test preparation:
https://usahello.org/citizenship/prepare/citizenship-test-questions/
