From Dream Card to Citizenship – The Time Is Now!

Houston is a vibrant tapestry of cultures, woven together by the stories of immigrants who have chosen to call it home. Recently, Houston Community Media convened a coalition of immigrant advocates, legal experts, and grassroots organizers to address a critical issue: increasing naturalization rates in Greater Houston. The briefing shed light on the resources available to over 360,000 lawful permanent residents eligible for citizenship, emphasizing a community-first approach to remove barriers and empower immigrants.

KaNeesha Allen from Dalberg Design opened the discussion with compelling data and outlined three pilot initiatives: navigation, support circles, and a communications campaign. She emphasized that while the approaches aren’t necessarily new, they are aligned to scale and sustain programs effectively. Allen highlighted the broader community benefits of naturalization, including increased civic engagement, workforce participation, and income stability. Dalberg Design aims to support over 400 eligible individuals in the next six months through partnerships with organizations like BPSOS, Literacy Council of Fort Bend, and SEES.

Austra Zapata, representing the Harris County Naturalization Program, shared her personal immigration journey from Honduras. She described how Harris County supports residents through free legal and ESL services. Zapata poignantly noted that “citizenship is not easy—it’s the trophy at the end of a very long and complicated journey.” Despite the national immigration climate, Harris County is witnessing a positive trend with more residents applying. From January to March 2025, the program screened over 2,000 people and legally represented 1,400 applicants, all at no cost.

Angie Dupree from the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) spotlighted the community navigator model as a culturally rooted outreach strategy. These navigators go to familiar places like churches, schools, and grocery stores to encourage eligible residents to take the next step. Dupree emphasized that many people are unaware of potential exemptions from the English requirement based on age and length of residency. The strength of the navigator model lies in its community connection: “Our navigators look like the community, speak their language, and have lived this journey themselves.”

Jannette Diep from Boat People SOS Houston spoke about serving overlooked communities, such as the Portuguese fishing community in the Gulf Coast. She emphasized that the “dream card” is not the final step and that citizenship is the ultimate goal. Diep highlighted the issue of fraudulent attorneys who charge thousands for services that lead to denials, underscoring the importance of free legal help. Workshops serve as trust-building moments for scared and underserved residents.

Michael Treviño brought the briefing full circle with a passionate reminder of civic duty, urging attendees to be “upstanders” rather than bystanders. He emphasized the significant contributions of immigrants to the economy, hospitals, and communities, asserting that they deserve recognition. Treviño encouraged attendees to share their experiences at naturalization ceremonies to inspire others to take that final step.

Spotlight: Mental Health Support in the Citizenship Journey

During a Q&A session, a student inquired about addressing anxiety, name changes, and mental health concerns during naturalization. Alice Min noted that many older clients feel overwhelmed or anxious, and their program focuses on confidence-building alongside civics education. Austra Zapata explained that if someone needs help beyond legal aid, their social services coordinator connects them to mental health or other resources during the intake process. These responses highlighted that immigration is not just a legal process but also an emotional one. Programs are evolving to treat the whole person, not just the paperwork, recognizing the importance of mental health support in the citizenship journey.