MIAMI
| Early on a Saturday morning, beneath an American flag languidly hanging from
the ceiling of the courtyard at Miami Dade College’s InterAmerican Campus in
Little Havana, hundreds of immigrants hoping to gain American citizenship
patiently stood in a serpentine line, waiting for assistance from the 2018 Mega
Event.
The
Mega Event is a campaign designed to provide information and assistance to
persons aspiring to become citizens during a time when immigrant communities
are becoming fearful about their chances.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
Martina Guillen, right, poses with her godmother Claudia Garzon. Guillen, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, was convinced by her godmother, a native of Colombia who became a U.S. citizen years ago. The two saw a commercial for the New Americans Campaign Mega Citizenship Workshop and knew it was time for action.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
Albert Miranda, a volunteer at the New Americans Campaign Mega Citizenship Workshop and Miami Dade College student, assists Concepcion Mendoza De Obando from Nicaragua with her the citizenship application.
“The
fear is palpable. There is no doubt about it,” said Ana Quiros, managing attorney
of Catholic Legal Services of the Archdiocese of Miami, which organized the
event in partnership with other local agencies and the nationwide New Americans
Campaign. “Fear is mostly feeling out of control.”
The
Mega Event, held Feb. 10, was created to provide hope along with the assistance. Workers from
Catholic Legal Services and the other agencies, along with volunteers, worked
long into the afternoon assisting as many people as they could. More than 525
people had registered in advance for the Mega Event. Many more who attended had
not pre-registered.
Those
who could not be assisted or did not have the documentation they needed were
directed to a website where they could register to receive assistance and the
appropriate follow-up services.
“My
husband wanted to try to keep his Bahamian citizenship,” said Minose George, of
Fort Lauderdale, about her husband Davidson, who was working with a counselor
as she spoke. “I’ve been on his butt about becoming a citizen, telling him
someday it will become an issue. Now someday’s here but so far, the process is
going well.”
Miriam
Patricia Gonzalez, of Mexico, stood in line with her husband Miguel Angel, son
Miguel Angel Jr. and daughter Marly, to help ease the waiting. Miriam was the
last of her family needing to become a citizen. Her husband and their children already
are.
“Both
of our children were born here,” she said.
The
week before, Martina Guillen, who came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic,
was watching her favorite telenovela on Univision with her godmother, Claudia
Garzon, when they saw a public service announcement for the event. Garzon told
Guillen: “That’s your chance.”
The
two women stood in line, waiting for Guillen to be served. “You have to be
patient,” Guillen said. “But the line is moving.”