In a fitting prelude to Independence Day, when many Americans come together to celebrate their nation, a group of dedicated MoFo attorneys assisted 61 individuals on both coasts in completing applications to become naturalized American citizens. On June 24, the Boston office hosted a Project Citizenship clinic, welcoming 36 clients. Shortly after, on June 26, the Palo Alto office collaborated with the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area to aid 25 clients.
Project Citizenship reported that the Boston clinic served clients from 17 different countries, with ages ranging from 18 to 73. Two-thirds qualified for an exemption from the $760 application fee because of their low incomes. Their countries of origin included the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Jamaica, and South Africa.
Although these statistics stem from a single clinic in Boston, they provide a glimpse into broader immigration trends in the United States and highlight the determination of people from diverse backgrounds striving to establish a life here. To apply for naturalization, applicants must have held permanent resident status for at least five years, or three years for those who qualified through marriage. In many cases, individuals have had to wait years just to become permanent residents.
Along with our pro bono partner organizations, dozens of MoFo lawyers, summer associates, and business professionals helped to plan, support, and participate in these clinics.
Tim Harris, managing partner of the Palo Alto office, reflected on the legacy of Chuck Comey, a recently deceased MoFo partner known for his dedication to immigration-related pro bono work. Harris remarked, “We know that Comey was looking down at us today and nodding his head in approval.”
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