Mayors and County Commissioners Nationwide Celebrate 10 Years of Cities & Counties for Citizenship (CC4C)! This momentous milestone represents a decade of unwavering commitment to championing citizenship, fostering immigrant inclusion, and creating vibrant, prosperous communities nationwide.

About Cities & Counties for Citizenship

Cities & Counties for Citizenship (CC4C) is a national network aimed at increasing citizenship among eligible U.S. permanent residents and encouraging cities and counties across the country to invest in citizenship programs. CC4C is chaired by the Mayors of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle, with the support of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA).

There are over 9 million U.S. permanent residents in America who are eligible for citizenship – 52% of whom remain low-income. Their naturalization would provide access to better paying jobs (up to an 11% increase to their personal earnings), academic scholarships, and myriad other benefits. Cities & Counties for Citizenship promotes the expansion of naturalization and financial empowerment programs nationwide, boosting economic opportunity for our immigrants and our communities.

Mayor Eric Adams

City of New York

More than a century ago, the Statue of Liberty was erected and became a symbol to welcome immigrants to this city from all over the world, and, since that time, New York's immigrant community has moved our city and our country along. Immigrants make New York City the thriving, eclectic, and prosperous city that we are, and they are the ones who helped get us through the pandemic. As a co-chair of Cities & Counties for Citizenship, I am deeply committed to making New York the most immigrant friendly city in the world. I encourage our immigrants here in New York to apply for immigration benefits and, if eligible, apply to become U.S. citizens. Naturalization benefits both immigrants and their families, as well as our city and country as a whole.

Mayor Karen Bass

City of Los Angeles

The City will augment the Los Angeles Public Libraries system of Citizenship Corners by integrating a financial component to its already popular citizenship programs, providing guidance to financial coaching resources and access to micro-loans and savings for the city’s immigrant community. The City will also target businesses that have large numbers of eligible citizens and immigrant populations for citizenship and financial coaching support. These efforts target the more than 350,000 legal permanent residents of Los Angeles.

 

Mayor Brandon Johnson

City of Chicago

Chicago has pledged to help about one-third of its immigrants become U.S. citizens through the Chicago New Americans initiative. The City will offer multi-lingual financial education and citizenship workshops in Citizenship Corners in public libraries, as well as support organizations that offer these services. Staff from community organizations will visit schools with large concentrations of immigrant students and parents to create a one-stop shop for information about the naturalization process, free immigration legal assistance, and financial coaching. The City’s Small Business Center will also provide services to immigrant business-owners and target large immigrant employers for citizenship and financial coaching support.

Mayor Bruce Harrell

City of Seattle

One Seattle means a commitment to welcoming new residents, especially those families fleeing poverty, deprivation, and war. I am proud that we will continue providing them with the support needed to help integrate into the civic and cultural life of our wonderful city. The story of my own family is a testament to this – including my grandparents who immigrated from Japan and opened a small business in pursuit of a better life. I’m proud that Seattle has long been a member of Cities & Counties for Citizenship. And I am thrilled to be the newest municipal member of CC4C’s Executive Committee, as we deepen our commitment to ensuring that vulnerable immigrants and refugees get the help they need today to become tomorrow’s newest American citizens