The Dividends of Citizenship: Why Legalization Must Lead to Citizenship

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2013

Washington D.C. - The most concrete proposals for immigration reform thus far in 2013 include earned legalization with a path to U.S. citizenship for unauthorized immigrants already living in the United States. This is a process that essentially permits unauthorized immigrants to come forward and receive a provisional legal status that—after paying taxes, proving they understand English and civics, passing all criminal and other background checks, and showing they are committed to the United States—allows them to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs). 

From there, like other LPRs before them, they will have to decide whether or not to make the final commitment to their adopted country by becoming American citizens. Some critics of the new proposals argue that citizenship is too good for unauthorized immigrants, or that legal status is really all they need to thrive in this country. But that kind of short-sighted thinking ignores some very important facts: more than half a century ago the U.S. finally abandoned the idea that there should be a second-class status for any group by denying them citizenship and, in fact, today the vast majority of Americans support a path to citizenship.

The Immigration Policy Center has prepared a fact sheet that highlights the eligibility guidelines and responsibilities that go with American citizenship, as well as the public’s view on it.

To view the fact sheet see:
The Dividends of Citizenship: Why Legalization Must Lead to Citizenship (IPC Fact Check, February 7, 2013)
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For more information contact Wendy Feliz at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7524