What keeps eligible Houstonians from applying for U.S. citizenship?
Throughout the research process, community members consistently told their design team partners that the following variables most affected their choices to apply for naturalization.
Beliefs and perceptions:
- A sense of belonging in U.S. society.
- Perceived value of citizenship.
- Outlook on the future.
- Self-sufficiency in the naturalization process.
- Loyalty to home culture.
Capacity and capabilities:
- English language proficiency and/or confidence.
- Ability to navigate the citizenship process.
- Time availability to take part in the process.
- Comfort with learning in a classroom context (language, interview skills, memorization).
- Age and sense of ability to engage in an unfamiliar bureaucratic process.
- Safety in engaging with governmental processes.
Relationship to support:
- Trust in information about naturalization.
- Access to financial resources for citizenship steps including applications, lawyer’s fees,
and ESL classes. - Willingness to provide and accept community support.
- Suitability of guidance and help to the client’s needs.
Community voices:
"Now I want citizenship. When my brother died, I learned that he was applying for citizenship so his children could meet their grandmother in Puebla." — 43-year-old man, eligible to naturalize,
from Mexico.
“I started working with [this Houston nonprofit] because I want to give back to the community— they helped me too.” — 24-year-old man, legal resident, from South Sudan.
“When they denied my citizenship, I thought to myself, I speak English, I’m not leaving this place without my citizenship approval.” — 38-year-old woman, citizen, from Mexico.
