For immediate Release: Press Release

June 25, 2008

For more information contact:

Catherine Salgado, 312.332.7360 ext. 235

Flavia Jiménez, 312.332.7360 ext. 215
Luvia Quiñones 312.332.7360 ext. 212

Immigrant community prepares for Election season – Hundreds expected to apply for U.S. citizenship on Saturday June 28 and thousands to vote on Election Day

CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rigths (ICIRR) along with community leaders from organizations across Chicago, including Instituto del Progreso Latino, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Latino Organization of the South West, Erie House and HIAS, new citizens and new immigrant voting campaign representatives released new TV commercials and ads which goal is to increase civic participation among the immigrant population in Illinois.

Branded with the slogan "What are you waiting for? Become a citizen and vote," the new ads and TV commercials main message focus on promoting citizenship. "Our goal is to assist 8,000 eligible immigrants to become citizens by the end of this year," said Flavia Jimenez, the New Americans Initiative (NAI) director. "Citizenship is the key that can help thousands of immigrants in Illinois open the door to full participation in civil life, which is specially important this historic Election day."

On June 28, at Foreman High School, 3235 N Leclaire Ave., legal permanent residents will be assisted in filling out citizenship applications. This event will have the participation of Congressmen Luis Gutierrez and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. In addition to beginning the path for citizenship, June 28 will also be a celebration for new U.S. citizens who went through the naturalization process through the New Americans Initiative (NAI), a citizenship program sponsored by the State of Illinois and administered by ICIRR. Another massive citizenship workshop will be taking place on the same day in Palatine in Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road.

Approaching July 4, June 28, the "Democracy Day" will be a powerful symbol of patriotism for immigrant populations nationwide. Hundreds are expected to attend this celebration and massive citizenship workshop. In addition, on June 28, ICIRR will launch the national campaign "The New Americans Vote 2008 – Our Vote is Power," which will include massive citizenship workshops and voter registration drives statewide. This national campaign combines training, organizing and electoral civic engagement targeting the immigrant community. For the first time the training will include participants from 17 other states across the country including Florida, California, Colorado, New York, Nebraska, Oregon, an more.

"The New Americans Vote 2008 – Our Vote is Power," is sponsored by ICIRR along with national immigrant rights organizations including the Center for Community Change, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, National Council of La Raza, NDN, America's Voice, United Food and Commercial Workers. "Immigrants want their voices to be heard, said Artemio Arreola, Director of the New Americans Democracy Project. "We are providing the tools to get our immigrant communities across the nation active and ready to raise their voices on Election Day."

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a state wide coalition of over 100 organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.

For more information, visit ICIRR’s website at www.icirr.org or call Catherine Salgado at 312.332.7360 ext. 235