Brighton Beach

Senators announce $1.25 million for immigrant assistance

September 30, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, pictured at a Sunset Park event during the summer, says the new federal funding will help community groups that help immigrants to expand their services. Eagle photo by Paula Katinas
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A Brighton Beach-Manhattan Beach group that helps immigrants is one of the organizations that will receive a portion of a $1,250,000 pot being handed out by the federal government to community-based groups, according to New York’s two senators.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the federal grants will be distributed through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services program.

The organizations include: Shorefront YM-YHWA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach; HANAC, Inc; Emerald Isle Immigration Center; Make the Road New York; and SEIU 1199 League Training and Upgrading Fund.

Through the grant program, the organizations will gain resources to support lawful permanent residents in the naturalization process, help individuals prepare for U.S. citizenship, and foster their integration into American society.

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Grant recipients are located in 25 states and will serve more than 25,000 immigrants from countries all over the world.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is awarding the grants as part of the Fiscal Year 2015 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The program is administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“New York thrives on diversity and the USCIS grants provide additional resources to help prepare lawful permanent residents for citizenship,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “This critical federal funding will allow several organizations to expand services to navigate immigrants through the complex application process. I will continue to push for funding that gives individuals and families a lifeline toward earned citizenship.” 

“Immigrants are dreamers and doers and America is a great nation because we welcome with open arms those who come here to make a better life for themselves and their families,”  Schumer said in a statement. “This federal funding means that organizations in New York City will be able to better prepare these hard-working future Americans for naturalization.”

Schumer called immigrants “the lifeblood of this country.”


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