City to offer new citizenship course

The City of Bloomington and Indiana Legal Services will begin offering a six-week Citizen Preparation Course for those interested in preparing for the U.S. citizenship exam.

Christie Popp, directing attorney of Indiana Legal Services’ Immigrants’ and Language Rights Center, said the class has been in the works for a few years.

“Just thinking about my own clients, it would be good for some way to have people applying for citizenship to study English and civics as part of that clinic,” Popp said.

According to the U.S. Census’ American Fact Finder, 5,117 foreign-born Bloomington residents have not become naturalized citizens. Of these foreign-born residents, 4,404 have moved to Bloomington since 2000.

Popp said she heard that when the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services changed the test a few years ago, citizenship applicants had slightly more difficulty passing.

“If there’s an issue with the exam, I think it comes from the English part,” Popp said.

While the USCIS provides printed study materials for those who want to take the test, Popp said preparing in a group setting has advantages.

“Going through the process of studying with teachers, you also get the experience of speaking English and listening to English, both of which are required for the test,” Popp said.

In addition, class participants have the opportunity to ask questions on any material they don’t understand.

Popp said the class is open to anyone interested in preparing for the U.S. citizenship test, regardless of whether they have completed other citizenship requirements.

“You have to hold your green card for five years unless you’re married to and living with a citizen, and then it’s three years,” Popp said. “Half of that time you have to be physically present in the United States. There are other miscellaneous requirements, such as good moral character, and you have to have paid your taxes.”

The class’s announcement came weeks after the Indiana Senate Pensions and Labor Committee voted to approve Indiana Senate Bill 590, a bill similar to Arizona’s SB 1070, that would give police more power to enforce immigration laws and require all government documents to be printed in English.

Popp said SB 590 did not inspire the class’s inception.

“This is a project we’ve been talking about for a couple years,” Popp said. “Besides, the individuals who have their green card are really not at much peril from this new law.”