By: The Christian Herald
HOUSTON, TX — In a city that thrives on diversity and resilience, over 360,000 lawful permanent residents are living just one step away from the promise of American citizenship. On May 8, Houston Community Media brought together a powerful coalition of community leaders, immigrant advocates, legal experts, and grassroots organizers for a groundbreaking media briefing titled “A Safe Path to Citizenship – The Time Is Now!”
The event was not simply a panel or a press opportunity—it was a rallying cry. Held from 1 to 3 p.m. CT, the forum showcased a city-wide push to reduce barriers to naturalization and uplift the stories, struggles, and strengths of Houston’s immigrant population. What emerged from the dialogue was a unified, compassionate, and strategic vision to make citizenship more accessible—one applicant, one neighborhood, and one success story at a time.
Building Bridges, Not Barriers
The forum opened with remarks by KaNeesha Allen of Dalberg Design, who laid out an ambitious blueprint for scaling naturalization support in Greater Houston. Backed by data and driven by empathy, Allen unveiled three pilot initiatives focused on community navigation, support circles, and a wide-reaching communications campaign.
“What we are attempting to do is not necessarily new,” Allen said. “But we’ve aligned around a set of promising approaches to scale and sustain programs.”
The initiatives, she explained, aim to serve over 400 eligible immigrants within the next six months through trusted partners, including BPSOS, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, and SEES. By targeting those who are already eligible for naturalization—many of whom have been green card holders for decades—the coalition hopes to accelerate a ripple effect across the Houston area.
Allen emphasized the broad societal benefits of citizenship, including greater civic engagement, increased workforce participation, and improved financial security. Citizenship, she argued, is not just a personal milestone—it’s a community investment.
Harris County’s Commitment: Legal Access for All
Austra Zapata, who leads the Harris County Naturalization Program, shared a deeply personal account of her own journey from Honduras to U.S. citizenship. Her story mirrored those of thousands of immigrants—long, arduous, and often uncertain. Yet her voice was one of hope and triumph.
“Citizenship is not easy—it’s the trophy at the end of a very long and complicated journey,” she told the audience.
Despite national debates on immigration, Harris County has seen a notable uptick in naturalization applications. From January to March of this year alone, the county screened over 2,000 applicants and provided legal representation to 1,400 individuals—all at no cost to them.
Zapata praised the county’s comprehensive approach, which includes English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, legal aid, and mental health referrals, all integrated into the naturalization process. “We are helping people achieve more than status,” she said. “We are helping them find belonging.”
The Power of Familiar Faces
Angie Dupree of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) highlighted a key element that many programs overlook: trust. Through a model known as the “community navigator” approach, Dupree explained how outreach workers—often former immigrants themselves—enter familiar spaces, such as churches, grocery stores, and schools.
“They say, ‘You can do this too,’” Dupree shared. “Our navigators look like the community, speak their language, and have lived this journey themselves.”
These navigators help demystify the process, offering accurate information and encouragement while ensuring that cultural and linguistic barriers don’t deter applicants. Dupree also noted that many lawful permanent residents qualify for exemptions from the English requirement based on age and years of residency, a fact that many are unaware of.
Legal Nuance and Financial Support
Navigating the legal labyrinth of naturalization can be daunting, especially for low-income individuals. Zenobia Lai, Executive Director of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, emphasized both the complexity and the stakes of the process.
“I don’t use the word ‘naturalization’—it reinforces the idea that immigrants are alien or other,” Lai noted.
She warned of the $760 application fee, which is often a significant deterrent for many families. Her organization’s “Give Citizenship a Boost” fund provides financial assistance to cover these costs. More critically, Lai emphasized the need for legal review, noting that a denial under current federal policies could result in deportation.
Lai described Houston’s immigrant support system as an interconnected ecosystem of service providers, legal experts, advocacy groups, and faith-based organizations. It’s a web, she said, designed not only to support applications—but to protect lives.
Empathy in Action: Stories from the Frontlines
Throughout the event, one theme resounded: immigration is as much an emotional journey as it is a legal one.
Luis Garcia-Alvarez of SEES (System for Education Empowerment Success) shared his personal journey and how it inspired him to build support circles for immigrants facing doubts and fears.
“Some hesitate because they don’t want to betray their country,” he said. “But even permanent residents gain additional protections by becoming citizens.”
Through his support groups, Garcia-Alvarez walks applicants through every stage—from filling out the application to passing the interview. “There’s no downside,” he assured the crowd. “Only empowerment.”
Similarly, Alice Min of WooriJuntos offered insight into how they’re serving Korean and Latino elders, many of whom face literacy challenges. Her team trains bilingual navigators to build understanding—not just test readiness. They even provide transportation and interpretation for interviews, ensuring no one is left behind due to accessibility barriers.
“Some are non-literate in any language,” Min said. “Our classes build confidence. It’s about dignity.”
From Literacy to Legacy
Dedre Smith, representing the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, spoke about the life-changing impact of wraparound services. Her team doesn’t just teach civics—they walk with their students all the way to the finish line.
“We graduated 13 new U.S. citizens last year,” Smith said. “It brings me joy when they come in and say, ‘I passed the exam!’”
Smith emphasized the importance of patience, flexibility, and encouragement. “Everyone deserves a lifeline to reach their goals,” she declared. “We never turn anyone away.”
Jannette Diep of Boat People SOS Houston echoed those sentiments, advocating for underserved communities, such as the Portuguese fishing community on the Gulf Coast.
“People think the green card is the final step,” Diep said. “But citizenship is the dream fulfilled.”
Too often, immigrants fall prey to fraudulent attorneys, paying thousands for denied applications. Diep’s workshops foster trust and offer critical legal guidance, particularly for those who feel overlooked.
The Human Element: Mental Health and Citizenship
During the Q&A, a student asked how programs account for anxiety, name changes, and emotional strain—concerns often overlooked in immigration discourse. The panelists responded with compassion.
Alice Min acknowledged that many of her elderly clients experience crippling anxiety over the interview process.
“We focus on confidence-building just as much as civics education,” she said.
Austra Zapata added that Harris County has embedded mental health referrals into its intake process, ensuring clients receive support beyond legal aid. This shift—from a procedural focus to a holistic, person-centered model—reflects a more profound truth: immigration is not just paperwork. It’s identity, belonging, and transformation.
The Call to Action: “Be an Upstander”
The final words came from Michael Treviño, a longtime advocate and organizer, who brought the conversation back to its core mission: civic duty and human dignity.
“This is not the time to be a bystander,” he said. “Be an upstander.”
Treviño urged attendees to share their stories, attend naturalization ceremonies, and educate others on how to access trustworthy resources.
“Immigrants contribute to our economy, our hospitals, and our communities,” he said. “They deserve recognition—not suspicion.”
Conclusion: The Time Is Now
As Houston continues to grow as one of America’s most diverse cities, its moral clarity and commitment to community will be measured by how it welcomes and uplifts its newest citizens. The May 8th media briefing was a bold declaration: we will not wait for national policy to catch up—our city leads with compassion, strategy, and faith in our neighbors.
Citizenship is not the end—it’s a beginning. In Houston, the path is being cleared with every support circle formed, every free legal screening offered, and every voice that says, “You belong.”