Program aims to assist local immigrants

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 19, 2003

The Welcome Center believes new immigrants can help themselves become citizens of the United States.

That's why it is offering a pilot program to help prepare new immigrants for the U.S. Citizenship Exam.

It begins Tuesday and Rosa I. Narvaez is in charge.

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Narvaez has the makings of a good teacher, because she's been there, done that.

"I became a U.S. citizens about three years ago," Narvaez said. "I decided I wanted to vote, be a part of more things and just take control of my own destiny in America."

Narvaez, a divorced single mother with a 22-month-old daughter, passed the U.S. citizenship test on her first try. Now, she will attempt to assist other Hispanics in doing the same.

The Welcome Center's board of directors began discussing a pilot program to promote citizenship last December., Narvaez said.

Previously, the only other program of its kind was one offered through the Austin Public Schools adult basic education program.

"We decided we wanted to offer the program to people who wanted to become U.S. citizens, but were unable to do so at this time because of the language barrier," Narvaez said.

The citizenship process is not bilingual.

The Welcome Center, Inc. will begin offering classes from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 25.

The late-afternoon and mid-day schedule is being offered to accommodate the work schedules of the students, who, Narvaez said, are between the ages of 30 and 50, men and women and all employed.

The registration deadline is June 24.

While each class can accommodate a maximum of 10 students, presently five people are enrolled for the late-afternoon class and three for the mid-day class.

The cost is $45 per student and there is an installment plan available.

The classes will last six weeks each and Narvaez chose a textbook that matches the questions asked for the actual citizenship exam.

Students will learn about the Pledge of Allegiance, the 13 original colonies, U.S. Constitution and its amendments, the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, American flag, branches of government, presidents, the process of electing leaders and more.

"There will be material on American history, vocabulary so that they can understand what English words mean in Spanish and there will be a review of the 100 questions they ask everyone, who takes the test both verbally and in a written exam," said Narvaez.

The pilot program is entirely funded by the Welcome Center.

"If it goes well, we hope to be able to offer a similar program for the Vietnamese and Sudanese if we can find the appropriate persons to teach those classes," Narvaez said.

And, Narvaez, the former immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, said she will not "go easy" on the students.

"Every session will have homework for them to do and they will need to be attentive in class," she said. "We want to help them become U.S. citizens."

Narvaez also hopes the citizenship classes will help clear up some misconceptions among new immigrants, such as the length of time someone must live in the United States before becoming a citizen.

Also, there are a lot of disreputable services preying upon immigrants and offering their services in becoming legal citizens of the United States for exorbitant amounts of money. The Welcome Center, Inc. can be a clearinghouse for immigrants seeking to become legal citizens.

According to the U.S. Census of 2000, there were 38,603 residents of Mower County, including 4.3 percent of Hispanic or Latin origin.

The city of Austin's 2000 population was 23,288. According to the U.S. Census, it had a foreign born population of 1,242 or 5.3 percent of the total population.

The largest ethnic group within the foreign born population group was Latin America, 660 or 53.1 percent of the total for foreign born residents.

Thus, a target ethnic group of potential U.S. citizens is known to exist, who could utilize the service offered by the Welcome Center.

"Whether it is 10 or five or just one, who successfully completes the program and passes the U.S. citizenship exam, it will be a success so long as we help someone to become a U.S. citizen," she said.

For information about the Welcome Center's program, call Narvaez at 434-2863 or visit the agency at 308 Fourth Ave. NW.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com