Twice a year, under the sponsorship of the Whitewater Unified School District, I offer an 8-week Citizenship Class class to prepare students for their citizenship interview and test. In the past year four students have become citizens—two from Mexico, one from Peru, and one from Turkey. The last class of each session is a celebration and final review of the 100 possible questions that could be asked during the interview. Former students who have become citizens attend the class to share their experience and a League member shares voter registration information and presents each student with a League-purchased pocket guide to our Founding Documents.

In 1882 my great-grandfather became a citizen of the U.S. At that time there were few requirements other than being of good moral character and having lived in the U.S. for five years. Today the path to citizenship is much more challenging. A 20-page application requests personal information and asks about one’s moral behavior. The application fee is $725. Scheduling an interview date can take up to 6 months. The interview tests their ability to read, write, and speak English, and their knowledge of U.S. civics and history. 

To be born a U.S. citizen is a gift, and I admire and applaud the hard work today’s immigrants must do to reach their goal of citizenship. My students are very grateful to the League for its support of this class.