Improving the Naturalization Process

September 19, 2011

Washington D.C. - Citizenship Day, which was celebrated this past Saturday, September 17, is a good time to reflect on the naturalization process and the need for better integration policies in America. Today, the Immigration Policy Center releases, Improving the Naturalization Process: Better Immigrant Integration Leads to Economic Growth, by Mary Giovagnoli, Esq.

Becoming a citizen is hard work. A new country, new rules, high costs, and little targeted support for new immigrants makes what should be a journey of exploration and opportunity one that may be frustrating and lonely. Integration is an often overlooked but key component of U.S. immigration policy. Successful integration of immigrants fuels their success, strengthens communities, and builds bridges between newcomers and other community members.

Time and again, an influx of immigrants has been shown to reverse economic decline and breathe new life into urban areas, small towns, and rural communities. Moreover, integration can be a key to entrepreneurship and future economic growth. Solid integration policies offer benefits to both the immigrant and the receiving community. The investment in immigrants, therefore, is an investment in the country’s own well-being.

To read the piece in its entirety, see:

Improving the Naturalization Process: Better Immigrant Integration Leads to Economic Growth by Mary Giovagnoli, Esq.