Building community, and making a big impact

Houston is a city shaped by generations of newcomers, where one in four residents is foreign-born.

For the approximately 360,000 eligible-to-naturalize residents living in Greater Houston, becoming a U.S. citizen can open doors to higher earnings, homeownership, civic participation, and greater opportunity. But the process can also be expensive, confusing, and difficult to navigate.

That’s where organizations across Houston step in. Through collaborative networks and trusted community-based support, groups like the New Americans Campaign (NAC)(opens in new window) and National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)(opens in new window) are helping eligible residents move from permanent residency to citizenship — and helping Houston lead the nation in citizenship applications.

“We’ve seen enormous strides in the numbers of residents applying for and receiving citizenship since we started this work,” said Gislaine Williams, program officer at Houston Endowment, which supported both nonprofits. “The infrastructure our partners have built allows organizations to best use their resources, reach into communities, and provide our residents with meaningful opportunities.”

Nine organizations, one goal

Founded in 2011 as a project of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, NAC brings together numerous local organizations—including BakerRipley(opens in new window), Bonding Against Adversity(opens in new window), BPSOS(opens in new window), Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston(opens in new window), Chinese Community Center(opens in new window), NALEO Educational Fund(opens in new window), OCA-Houston(opens in new window), and Woori Juntos(opens in new window)—to help thousands of residents each year move toward citizenship.

“The value of the New Americans Campaign is this network approach,” said Juan Rosa, NALEO Educational Fund Director of National Outreach. “The fact that organizations are learning from one another means they’re reducing duplication and competition, right? And [we’re] working in a multi-year effort to improve the craft of service delivery.” 

Central to NAC’s work is a naturalization workshop model designed to make a complicated process feel manageable. Within a single session, participants can receive eligibility screenings, complete applications with volunteer assistance, explore fee waivers and reductions, consult with legal experts, and undergo quality-control reviews. 

Working together through this approach, NAC organizations have made great strides. Between 2021 and 2025, these organizations helped applicants save more than $4.7 million through application fee waivers and reductions. Additionally, it’s provided residents with flexible, consistent, and high-quality support.

Navigating the journey

While NAC focuses on coordinated legal and application support, NPNA provides assistance through community navigators—trained individuals from residents’ own communities who can explain the naturalization process in multiple languages, answer questions, and help dispel fears that often prevent people from beginning their naturalization journey.

Navigators have become a critical bridge between residents and the resources they need by working through nonprofits, libraries, hospitals, and community centers. Their efforts help build trust, expand access to information, and create stronger communities.

That community-centered approach has been amplified through Naturalize Now, Houston!(opens in new window), a campaign launched in September 2023 through a partnership among NPNA, the City of Houston, Harris County, Houston Endowment, local nonprofits, and community leaders. The campaign was created to ensure residents have access to reliable information and legal support throughout the citizenship process. From September 2023 to August 2025, Naturalize Now, Houston! conducted 195 naturalization workshops and reached more than 117,000 people with information about citizenship services.

Together, these efforts have helped build one of the nation’s strongest naturalization support systems and made Houston a national leader in helping eligible residents pursue citizenship.

“Our partners work tirelessly to open doors and provide opportunities for the residents of Houston,” said Williams. “With organizations working in tandem, we can make a significant impact on the lives of lawful permanent residents and help our region thrive.”