Integrating immigrants into the nation’s civic and economic life continues to be a major program concern. For large numbers of immigrants to become U.S. citizens, a stronger, service-oriented infrastructure is crucial to their achieving citizenship and establishing a social and economic foothold. With an estimated 8.2 million legal immigrants currently eligible for citizenship, the sheer size and diversity of this population demands new approaches.  

A Carnegie Corporation-commissioned study and subsequent mapping of metropolitan areas in states with the largest numbers of potential citizens are the basis of a planned five-year, multi-million dollar naturalization initiative. Joined by several foundation partners, the Corporation will pilot this national naturalization effort working with services providers in major metro areas nationwide.   

Priorities for the coming year include:  

• Increase in voter registration and voting by 5 percent among the 40 percent (6 million) of the 15 million naturalized citizens who are not registered to vote; increase in voter registration and voting by 5 percent among the 3.7 million children of immigrants (185,000) who are U.S. citizens with at least one immigrant parent

• Increase by 5 percent the rate of naturalization among the approximately 8 million eligible legal immigrants

• Media campaign by mainstream, social and ethnic media to promote naturalization, voter registration, and voting among Latino and other ethnic populations

• Measurable increase in voting by new citizens and their families