(Para leer esta historia en español, haga clic aquí)
The Department of Homeland Security at the end of July announced that “fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit requests” will increase, including the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship. In response to the change, El Comite de Longmont will amp up its support to community members working toward gaining citizenship.
The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted many people’s journey toward citizenship, said Donna Lovato, executive director of El Comite. After pausing citizenship processing in the spring, the nonprofit will begin to do so again in September.
Fees to apply for citizenship will be about 80% higher come October, Lovato said. To mitigate the impact of the cost increase, El Comite is gearing up its operations to help community members submit their applications before the fees increase.
“We want to get as many people as possible to call El Comite to set up an appointment. We have two staff trained and a lot of volunteers who will work on Saturdays. We will set up three separate spaces in the office so we have social distance, a thermometer and everything to protect them and us… we want people to come before the increase (starting) on Oct. 1,” Lovato said.
“We have been working with an attorney, trained the staff on how to do applications online, and have been working with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition ... (people) can call us on Zoom or come in. A lot of immigrants may not know how to do things online, but we can help fill applications out,” she said, adding citizenship test classes are available in English and in Spanish.
For more information on El Comite’s citizenship support, click here.
To alleviate the cost burden, El Comite has partnered with High Plains Bank for the past five years to help people afford the fees.
“If they don't have the money (for the application), we send them to High Plains to get a loan. It’s a win-win situation. The bank gets new customers and the client builds credit for a two-year period,” Lovato said.
According to the Community Foundation Boulder County 2019-2021 Trends report, the bank has “worked out a 24-month, unsecured loan where it (pays) the application fee directly and borrowers (pay) the bank back over two years.”
John Creighton, president and CEO of High Plains Bank, said cost often is what keeps people from applying for citizenship.
“One of the barriers for people after they meet all the requirements, have done all of the work, and made the effort to be ready to apply for (citizenship), is the application fee, which is more than they can handle in a single payment,” he said.
The bank is aware of the barriers and is committed to help, he said.
“(We) don’t require income verification, don’t require proof of income … people should not be concerned about credit scores or those sort of things when making an application … Banks are often standoffish institutions or people have that kind of experience, we want to help.”
El Comite has served as a partner and bridge in the community for the bank to identify ways to bring more relevant and equitable services to members of the Latinx community, Creighton said.
“I served on the school board for eight years, that’s how I got to know Marta Moreno (at El Comite), and admire the work she has done over the years. ... The inequities I saw in the school district and El Comite’s genuine efforts to address these, their experience working on these issues, led me to create a partnership with them,” he said. “Historically, El Comite has been an advocate to address with confidence institutions in the community. I have this personal relationship (with them), which has enabled us to identify needs, they are really the ones helping identify the needs and reaching out.”
Lovato said establishing a relationship with the bank not only helps people on their path toward citizenship but also helps cement the beginnings of their banking history. “What is interesting with some immigrants is that they don’t trust banks, don't understand the concept, and will keep money in their home … We are trying to get them to understand that opening an account is safe, it builds their credit,” she said.
The citizenship loan is a first step in serving and addressing the needs of the Latinx community in Longmont, Creighton said.
“This year has really driven home the point: As a bank we have a long way to go, and the citizenship loan is the first thing we can do. … A bank like ours is mostly driven by social relationships rather than marketing, but the team doesn't have social relationships to serve the whole of the community,” he said. “Our goal is to address this issue, stretch beyond normal practices and normal social networking.”
High Plains plans to continue the citizenship loan program and cover the increased fee come October.
“We need to update the details but are still very open to make the loan for the entire amount,” Creighton said.
Loan payments start 30 days after closing and the loan must be paid in full over a 24-month term in monthly installments, according to an informational flyer. There is no loan fee or prepayment penalty, and interested customers must visit the bank and fill out an application and required form. For additional information, contact the Longmont branch.
