Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization 

“Our Nation is enriched socially and economically by the presence of immigrants, and we celebrate 

with them as they take the important step of becoming United States citizens. The Federal 

Government should develop welcoming strategies that promote integration, inclusion, and citizenship, 

and it should embrace the full participation of the newest Americans in our democracy.” 

Executive Order No. 14012 (2021) 
Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

As required by Section 5(c) of the Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems 

and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Eforts for New Americans (E.O. 14012), the U.S. Departments 

of Homeland Security (DHS), Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), State (DOS), Labor (DOL), 

Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Defense (DOD), Justice (DOJ), Veterans Afairs (VA), Agriculture (USDA), 

and the Social Security Administration (SSA) established the Naturalization Working Group (NWG) to develop a 

national strategy to promote naturalization. Each of these agencies provided meaningful contributions which 

enabled the NWG to develop a comprehensive whole-of-government approach. The NWG’s proposed strategy 

will promote naturalization through citizenship education and awareness and by building capacity and 

expanding partnerships. Its members are committed to the following goals and outcomes: 

• Raising awareness of the importance of citizenship; 

• Promoting civic integration and inclusion; 

• Providing immigrants with opportunities and tools to become fully engaged citizens; 

• Building community capacity to prepare immigrants for citizenship; 

• Eliminating sources of fear and other barriers that prevent individuals from accessing 

available naturalization services; and 

• Advancing and ensuring equity throughout the citizenship and naturalization 

processes, including on the basis of race, disability, language access, national origin, 

gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, and providing support to traditionally 

underserved communities. 

The Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization is a nationwide initiative that will be implemented at 

the community level. It includes the following critical elements: 

• Use of data regarding potential naturalization-eligible populations; 

• Citizenship public education and awareness campaign; 

• National and community targeted outreach through traditional and social media; 

• Stakeholder engagement; 

• Promotion of citizenship education and resources; 

• The USCIS Outstanding Americans by Choice (ABC) initiative; 

• The USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program; and 

• Capacity building through collaboration and partnerships. 

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Interagency Strategy for 

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INTRODUCTION 

Throughout our history, the United States has welcomed immigrants from all over the world who have 

helped shape and define our country. Granting citizenship to eligible lawful permanent residents (LPRs) 

is vital to our nation’s security, economic prosperity, and a future built on the principles of the U.S. 

Constitution. 

As required by Section 5(c) of the Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems 

and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Eforts for New Americans (E.O. 14012), the U.S. Departments 

of Homeland Security, Education, Health and Human Services, State, Labor, Housing and Urban 

Development, and the Social Security Administration worked together through a Naturalization Working 

Group to develop a national strategy to promote naturalization. The NWG invited other federal agencies, 

including the U.S. Departments of Defense, Justice, Veterans Afairs, and Agriculture, to assist in the 

development of the strategy; each of these agencies provided meaningful contributions and have helped the 

NWG develop a whole-of-government approach. The NWG’s proposed strategy will promote naturalization 

through citizenship education and awareness. Its members are committed to: 

• Raising awareness of the importance of citizenship; 

• Promoting civic integration and inclusion; 

• Providing immigrants with opportunities and tools to become fully engaged citizens; 

• Building community capacity to prepare immigrants for citizenship; 

• Eliminating sources of fear and other barriers that prevent individuals from accessing 

available naturalization services; and 

• Advancing and ensuring equity throughout the citizenship and naturalization 

processes, including on the basis of race, disability, language access, national origin, 

gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, and providing support to traditionally 

underserved communities. 

To advance these goals, and in accordance with Section 5(d) of E.O. 14012, representatives of the NWG have 

outlined steps the federal government should take to promote naturalization. 

This Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization reflects a realistic assessment of the NWG’s goals, 

and we are confident that the initiatives presented below are achievable. At the same time, however, 

individual departments currently face challenges including budget shortfalls resulting in hiring freezes, and 

pandemic-related temporary ofice closures and restrictions that have limited our ability to conduct inperson events. As the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will seek to responsibly hold 

in-person events and to use the creative solutions we have already been employing to connect with 

communities using technology. 

The Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization is a nationwide initiative that will be implemented at 

the community level. Therefore, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of DHS, will 

marshal available data regarding the size and characteristics of potential naturalization-eligible populations 

by country and region of birth, initial state of residence, date and class of admission, length of time in LPR 

status, age, sex, and zip code and make it available (in anonymized data sets) to the NWG members to help 

target outreach, build partnerships, and inform the development of educational resources for citizenship and 

inclusive language services. The data will provide evidence to enhance the ability of the NWG to tailor the 

strategy to meet the needs of stakeholders, partners, and local communities. 

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Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization

 

INTERAGENCY STRATEGY FOR 

PROMOTING NATURALIZATION 

NOTE: Items that are listed in the Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization that are identified with an asterisk (*) 

indicate an existing or ongoing initiative. 

I. Immigrant, Community, and Education Outreach Initiatives 

The NWG will relaunch and expand a citizenship education and awareness campaign. The campaign will 

employ NWG networks, targeting individuals who are already LPRs and those who are on the path to 

acquiring LPR status. The campaign will be conducted at the national, state, and community levels using 

trusted messengers from various sectors. It will engage community-based organizations, national citizenship 

networks, embassies, consulates, businesses, and the media. The NWG will develop social media content 

to amplify the campaign and revive the Outstanding Americans by Choice (ABC) initiative to spotlight 

contributions of naturalized citizens. The outreach campaign will be developed based on evidence regarding 

the most efective messaging and media. 

A. Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Campaign* 

The NWG will: 

• Leverage the various networks that federal agencies have developed to grow the Citizenship 

Public Education and Awareness Campaign. It will place a specific focus on expanding outreach to 

particular groups, including refugees and asylees, agricultural workers, adult adoptees, and those 

who have been LPRs for more than 10 years, since the time in LPR status suggests there may be 

obstacles to applying. (See below for a more detailed discussion on specific outreach plans.) 

• Expand educational opportunities for LPRs and community-based organizations to learn more 

about U.S. citizenship, and ensure that these target groups have access to oficial and trusted 

sources of information. 

B. The USCIS Outstanding Americans by Choice Initiative* 

The ABC initiative publicly recognizes individuals who have chosen to become Americans and have 

made significant contributions to both their communities and the nation through civic participation, 

professional achievement, and responsible citizenship. 

The NWG will: 

• Raise awareness of the contributions that naturalized citizens make to the United States and their 

impact by recognizing additional ABC recipients. 

• Spotlight naturalized citizens who are COVID-19 heroes and have tirelessly worked to find a 

solution to the pandemic, safeguarded lives on the front lines, and/or supported their communities 

by working in critically essential functions. 

C. USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (Grant Program)* 

Funding for the Grant Program 

• Revisit the feasibility of accepting private donations to support the USCIS Citizenship and 

Integration Grant Program and expand use of public-private partnerships. 

• Initiate and foster partnerships with foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and 

corporations to expand the scope of the naturalization services provided by the Grant Program. 

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Interagency Strategy for 

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Supporting Underserved Communities 

• Refine the Grant Program to consider prioritizing the funding of organizations that assist 

underserved and marginalized communities. 

• Revise the contractual requirements of the Grant Program in response to input from the House 

Appropriations Committee and other stakeholders. 

D. Social Media Outreach 

The NWG will: 

• Expand social media content around citizenship-related events, activities, study materials, and 

information about the application process and eligibility requirements to become a citizen and 

coordinate social media activities with other federal agencies to cross-promote and amplify 

citizenship-related messaging. 

• Tie in relevant annual themes (For example, Constitution Day, holidays of civic significance, months 

commemorative of equal opportunity, inclusion, and the contributions of diverse groups of 

Americans) to the messaging. 

• Expand social media content around naturalized citizens and their contributions, incorporating 

ABCs; community, business and government leaders; and historical figures. 

• Use existing social media channels to reach new audiences, for example through the USDA Rural 

Development Twitter account, in addition to creating social media content that is translated into 

multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog, Korean, and Vietnamese. 

• Provide greater visibility to citizenship resources and services and DHS/USCIS social media on NWG 

agency websites. For example, the HHS/Ofice of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) technical assistance 

provider will share DHS/USCIS’ social media messaging with all grantees serving populations 

eligible for ORR support/ funding. 

E.Targeted Outreach 

DHS/USCIS will not only target outreach to LPRs but will also reach out to people earlier in their 

immigration journeys to reach those who may one day become eligible for naturalization. DHS/ 

USCIS will develop educational materials geared toward persons who are not yet LPRs and may 

not know that they could become LPRs. For example, eligibility information could be developed for 

humanitarian entrants unaware of the process to seek LPR status and to apply for naturalization 

such as T, U, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) visa recipients. Similarly, at DOJ, immigration 

judges within the Executive Ofice for Immigration Review (EOIR) can be trained to inform 

noncitizens who will be eligible to naturalize how they can do so and refer them to resources for 

applying for citizenship. The EOIR Immigration Court Helpdesk staf can also be trained to provide 

information and resources to facilitate naturalization. In addition, the NWG will target state and local 

governments to participate in outreach eforts. The NWG will relaunch, reinvigorate, and expand its 

education and awareness activities as follows: 

1. State and Local Governments: The NWG will develop a targeted outreach strategy using 

webinars and other outreach to states, cities and municipalities to promote citizenship 

education and awareness and provide technical assistance. The targeted outreach strategy will 

apply an evidence-based approach to identify communities with large populations of LPRs who 

have not applied for citizenship. The messaging and method of outreach can then be tailored 

to meet the needs of each community in coordination with state and local governments. DHS/ 

USCIS will establish and expand partnerships with state directors of adult education and adult 

literacy resource centers as well as State Refugee Coordinators across the nation to work on 

joint communication and education projects that serve immigrant communities. 

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Interagency Strategy for 

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2. Direct Communication: The NWG will explore initiatives that encourage noncitizens, especially 

LPRs, to learn more about the naturalization process through direct communication, such as 

GovDelivery email and text messages, receipt notices, messaging in online accounts, and direct 

mail. 

3. Notification of Key Milestones: The NWG will explore avenues to promote awareness of 

naturalization tied to immigration milestones or other events, such as applying for social 

security, graduating from high school, or filing taxes. DHS/USCIS will develop tools so that 

individuals can request notification regarding key milestones in their immigration journey, 

including when they may become eligible to apply to naturalize. DHS/USCIS will create general 

messages linked to receipt notices and other correspondence concerning naturalization. 

4. Naturalization Information Sessions*: NWG interagency partners (including DOL, DOD, VA, 

HUD, USDA, DOJ, DOS and SSA) will work with USCIS Community Relations Oficers (CROs) 

and the USCIS Ofice of Citizenship (OoC) to conduct naturalization information sessions for 

those interested in learning more about the naturalization process and related eligibility 

requirements, in addition to providing information about interagency programs and services. 

5. USDA Ofice of Partnerships and Public Engagement Networks: USDA’s Ofice of Partnerships 

and Public Engagement (OPPE) will increase awareness about naturalization through its 

partner organizations that serve immigrant communities, including through its Hispanic 

Serving Institution Liaisons and Higher Education Initiatives Division. 

6. DOJ/Executive Ofice for Immigration Review (EOIR): EOIR will communicate with nonattorney “Accredited Representatives”1

 through a GovDelivery listserve to highlight the 

naturalization process and related eligibility requirements. 

F. Community Outreach 

Several NWG member agencies house programs that are trusted partners in the communities 

they serve and could be additional sources of information for specific communities. For example, 

Agricultural Representatives in USDA have cultivated relationships within farmworker communities, 

and the Social Security Administration has a network supporting the elderly as well as individuals 

with disabilities and low income. Similarly, Education Program Specialists in the USCIS Ofice of 

Citizenship have established networks with the adult education community that ofer citizenship 

education classes for LPRs. The NWG will be able to expand its naturalization outreach capacity by 

connecting the unique networks that individual agencies have established. 

1. Identifying Avenues for Community Outreach: The NWG will identify the ofices and networks 

within each participating agency to connect with target communities. Examples include: 

• DHS/USCIS: Ofice of Citizenship and Community Relations Oficers 

• DHS: Ofices for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and Partnership and Engagement 

• DOL: Women’s Bureau, Wage and Hour Division (WHD), American Job Centers 

1 DOJ/EOIR runs the Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) Program. EOIR’s Ofice of Legal Access Programs manages the R&A program through 

which non-attorney “Accredited Representatives” of Recognized Organizations are authorized to represent noncitizens before DHS and EOIR, 

which includes the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The R&A Program aims to increase the availability of 

competent immigration legal representation for low-income and indigent persons. All Recognized Organizations are non-profit and federally taxexempt (8 C.F.R. § 1292.1-20). 

There are currently 795 Recognized Organizations, overseeing 2027 Accredited Representatives. Most Recognized Organizations represent 

individuals applying for naturalization, while a substantial number of these organizations focus particularly on citizenship classes and assisting 

individuals in completing their naturalization applications. 

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• USDA: Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) liaisons, Strategic Initiatives Division, Military and 

Veterans Agricultural Liaisons 

• HHS: State Refugee Coordinators, Preferred Communities Program Representatives 

• DOD: Legal Service Ofices and others who assist in the naturalization process 

• SSA: Ofice of Strategic and Digital Communications and Ofice of the Commissioner 

• HUD: Ofice of the General Counsel, HUD Regional and Field Ofices, and Public and Indian 

Housing (PIH) 

• ED: Ofice of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), Ofice of English Language 

Acquisition (OELA), Ofice of the Deputy Secretary 

• VA: Post-9/11 Transition and Case Management (Post-9/11 TCM) Veterans Experience Ofice 

(VEO) 

• DOJ: Civil Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section, and Servicemembers 

and Veterans Initiative, and Executive Ofice for Immigration Review (EOIR) 

• DOS: Consular Afairs (CA) 

2. Museum, Library, and Employer Outreach*: DHS/USCIS will expand citizenship programmatic 

assistance available to libraries, museums, and employers to encourage making naturalization 

and integration information easily available through the creation or expansion of citizenship 

corners, which can include special collections and exhibits to promote America’s immigrant 

heritage and naturalization information and resources. Museums and libraries continue to play 

a critical role in welcoming new immigrants and serving as local sources of information, ofering 

English language and citizenship classes and learning materials, resources on immigration 

and naturalization, and opportunities to connect with the local community. For example, the 

Smithsonian Institution partnered with USCIS to create Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History 

and Civics for Citizenship (https://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/. Additionally, the New 

York Historical Society, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Hartford Public Library in 

Connecticut have all created successful programs. 

3. “Avoid Scams” Outreach*: DHS/USCIS will support the Avoid Scams outreach to direct the public 

to sources of valid naturalization information and accurately identify fraudulent immigration 

preparers and misinformation. 

4. Community Consultation*: HHS/ORR State Refugee Coordinators (SRC) hold quarterly 

community consultations in support of services to refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, 

Special Immigrant Visa holders, victims of human traficking, and LPRs. HHS will encourage 

SRCs to include CROs in the consultation process to promote naturalization resources and 

to potentially broaden the audiences who are engaged. DOJ/EOIR staf hold regular working 

group meetings with nongovernmental organizations that provide training and support to DOJ 

Recognized Organizations nationwide. 

5. Needs Assessment and Listening Sessions*: HHS/ORR’s Technical Assistance provider will 

conduct a needs assessment of all grantees serving populations eligible for ORR support/ funding 

to determine gaps in citizenship education and naturalization preparation. This assessment 

could also include a literature review or research on barriers to naturalization. HHS/ORR will also 

facilitate grantee listening sessions with DHS/USCIS to better understand citizenship gaps and 

needs, particularly for vulnerable populations. 

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G. Engaging with Stakeholders: 

1. Congressional Partners: DHS/USCIS will explore ofering in-depth webinars to congressional 

stafers and NWG members to explain the naturalization process, and describe the available 

citizenship education and awareness resources, including the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center 

(CRC) https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship, which is an online one-stop resource that includes 

extensive up-to-date information on naturalization for prospective applicants, educators, and the 

public. 

2. Engagement and Outreach to Foreign Embassies and Consulates: The NWG will increase 

engagement and outreach to specific foreign embassies and consular networks that may be 

interested in providing information and resources on citizenship, and also encourage consulates 

to clarify or provide information to their nationals on the impact of dual citizenship. 

3. Intergovernmental Partners and Networks: The NWG will leverage intergovernmental fora to 

inform process improvements on integration and naturalization. USCIS recently assumed the 

chair for the M5 Citizenship Network2 and participates in the Intergovernmental Consultations 

on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC) integration working group3 and the Organization for 

Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)4. 

4. Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy: The NWG will explore opportunities to connect 

citizenship education materials and initiatives for immigrants with the Roadmap to Educating for 

American Democracy that is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and ED. 

5. Engagement with Community-Based Organizations: The NWG will engage with stakeholders, 

including community-based and immigrant-serving organizations, to share information and 

seek feedback on the naturalization process. This will include a stakeholder engagement on 

naturalization and integration hosted by the Ofice of the CIS Ombudsman, DHS Civil Rights and 

Civil Liberties, and USCIS. 

2 The Migration Five (M5, previously the Five Country Conference) is an international forum of immigration and border security agencies from 

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

3 Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC) is an informal, non-decision-making forum for intergovernmental 

information exchange and policy debate on all issues of relevance to the management of international migratory flows. IGC is considered as the 

first interstate consultation mechanism on migration. 

4 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Employment Labour and Social Afairs Committee (ELSAC) and its Working 

Party on Migration are charged with monitoring and assessing emerging migration trends and providing evidence-based analysis, information 

and tools on the economic, social and labor- market impacts of migration. The OECD believes that adapting migration and integration systems to 

enhance their contribution to economic growth and social cohesion stands as one of the most important policy objectives in the forthcoming years. 

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II. Promoting Citizenship through Capacity Building and Partnerships 

The NWG believes that this strategy will be strengthened through expanded formal and informal national, 

regional, and local partnerships. The partnerships will engage federal agency partners, community-based 

organizations, and national citizenship networks to explore potential collaboration on naturalization and 

integration activities. The NWG will build capacity in its partners through grant programs as well as various 

supports such as ofering joint webinars, educational and cultural events, and sharing technical assistance 

and training materials. The NWG will also build capacity by ofering information including anonymized data 

about potential clusters of naturalization candidates, free citizenship educational resources to city and state 

facilities, school systems, community colleges, colleges, universities, labor unions, businesses, and state and 

county governments such as the Departments/Ofices of New Americans, Aging, and Motor Vehicles. 

A. Letters of Agreement (LOA) & Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) 

1. DHS/USCIS and LOA with Cities*: USCIS will review the former LOA initiative with cities to 

determine how to revive this efort, keeping in mind the current pandemic environment, and 

considering whether there may be other ways to reach cities such as through collaboration with 

existing third-party networks. 

2. DHS/USCIS and National Park Service (NPS) MOU*: USCIS and the NPS will reestablish their 

partnership through a revised MOU to hold naturalization ceremonies in meaningful locations 

throughout the country and consider developing educational materials related to relevant park 

sites to promote further civic learning. 

3. DHS/USCIS and ED MOU: ED will establish an ongoing partnership with DHS/USCIS in an efort 

to produce, promote, and disseminate information, hold trainings and events, and develop 

digital assets to reach teachers/educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders at all 

levels of education. ED will make states aware of availability of funds under Section 243 of the 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to support pathways to citizenship. DHS/ 

USCIS will explore an MOU with ED to leverage current federal investments made through the 

Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) to support pathways to citizenship. The MOU 

will potentially include activities to utilize DHS/USCIS promotional activities, training materials, 

and educational resources in AEFLA’s Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) 

program to support professional development of IELCE teachers on naturalization and civic 

education, and to coordinate dissemination of resources through the Literacy Information and 

Communication System. 

4. DHS/USCIS and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) MOU*: USCIS will reestablish 

a formal MOU with the IMLS to provide citizenship information and resources (or other 

immigration-related topics as appropriate) through a series of webinars targeted at museums and 

libraries to share with their communities. The USCIS Ofice of Citizenship has informally continued 

this partnership since the expiration of the MOU in September 2019. 

B. Collaboration and Partnerships 

1. DHS Intra-agency Collaboration*: DHS will expand collaborative eforts among DHS 

components. For example, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USCIS will seek to 

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Interagency Strategy for 

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distribute information on naturalization to LPRs at ports of entry. In addition, the Ofice of the 

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman will continue to gather stakeholder feedback 

and provide recommendations to USCIS in an efort to improve processing of naturalization 

applications and understand challenges or obstacles that applicants and their representatives 

may encounter with the naturalization process. 

2. International Organization for Migration Collaboration*: DHS/USCIS will continue its 

collaboration with DOS and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the distribution 

of information during the pre-departure orientation for refugees. 

3. DHS/USCIS and DOS Collaboration: DOS will explore the feasibility of developing approved 

messaging language regarding dual citizenship – which many countries permit – to reassure 

potential applicants who may be hesitant to apply for naturalization due to concerns about 

potential loss of their birth citizenship. 

4. Partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS): DHS/USCIS will explore the 

feasibility of a partnership with the USPS to display promotional posters at USPS facilities about 

becoming a U.S. citizen and to serve as a location where individuals and organizations can find 

information and resources to learn about the naturalization process. DHS/USCIS will propose the 

development of a collection of stamps highlighting historical naturalized citizens or the creation 

of a new stamp with messaging focused on celebrating citizenship. USCIS will explore whether 

the post ofice could make informational materials or citizenship forms available. 

5. DHS/USCIS & SSA Partnership: 

• Enumeration Beyond Entry: DHS/USCIS and SSA will collaborate to automate the Social 

Security Number (SSN) application process for noncitizens residing in the U.S. who apply 

for U.S. citizenship using Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, or for LPRs using Form 

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Automating this process 

would provide a potential universe of approximately 1.3 million individuals each year the 

opportunity to conduct business with both DHS/USCIS and SSA simultaneously and eliminate 

the need for them to visit a field ofice or card center to apply for a SSN card. Automating this 

process also builds on the “Enumeration Beyond Entry” project where DHS/USCIS and SSA 

work together to provide a streamlined automated SSN application process for individuals 

using the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and the decades-long 

“Enumeration At Entry” project where DHS/USCIS and SSA work with DOS to automatically 

assign SSNs to LPRs entering the country. 

• Sharing Information and Educational Materials: DHS/USCIS and SSA will share information 

and educational materials with their respective customers to ensure a collaborative 

approach to promoting benefits and services available to noncitizens. For example, SSA will 

expand communications to promote enumeration and other services available to LPRs and 

new U.S. citizens, and request DHS/USCIS share SSA publications and webpages that can 

benefit these audiences. Some examples include: 

• Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens (13 languages in addition to English: Arabic, 

Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and 

Vietnamese.) 

• Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card (English, Spanish). 

• Social Security Number and Card — Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (English). 

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• Information for Immigrants (English, Spanish). 

• Can noncitizens living in the United States receive Social Security benefits? (English). 

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Noncitizens (13 languages). 

• Spotlight on SSI Benefits for Noncitizens – 2021 Edition (English). 

• Newspaper articles promoting enumeration and other services (for media placement by 

SSA’s public afairs specialists). 

• Informational slides on Social Security Television (SSTV) when SSA ofices begin reaccepting walk-in visitors. SSTV displays educational material to customers waiting to 

speak with an SSA representative. 

6. DHS/USCIS Collaboration with HHS/Ofice of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Preferred 

Communities (PC): ORR supports the resettlement of especially vulnerable refugee groups at 

resettlement sites through its Preferred Communities (PC) program. The PC sites ofer services 

for refugees with limited English proficiency, medical conditions, and disabilities, and who 

have experienced trauma. Pending the availability of funding, HHS/ORR will provide additional 

funding to its Services to Older Refugees program, to enhance assistance to older ORR-eligible 

populations on their path toward naturalization, especially those at risk of losing Supplemental 

Security Income and other federal benefits. DHS/USCIS will work with ORR to see if further 

support is needed relating to the naturalization process and eligibility requirements. 

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III. Citizenship Education and Inclusive Language 

A. Language and Accommodation 

1. Printed Citizenship Study Materials*: The NWG will explore expanding the number of printed 

citizenship materials that are currently in six languages (currently Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, 

Tagalog, Korean, and Vietnamese). DHS/USCIS will identify additional languages based on the size 

of immigrant populations and other factors. ED will review whether it could translate materials into 

further languages to augment those already available. 

2. Glossary of Legal and Technical Terms: DHS/USCIS will develop and provide applicants with a 

glossary defining legal and technical terms used in Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and 

other USCIS forms. 

3. Digital Delivery of Citizenship Related Resources*: DHS/USCIS will explore ways to improve the 

digital delivery of citizenship-related content and resources including optimizing the online format 

of its publications. 

4. Accommodations for Webinar Participants: DHS/USCIS will ofer accommodations to webinar 

participants, including closed captioning, posting of materials to the web in advance of the event, 

and webinar follow up messages highlighting the availability of materials in other languages and 

formats. 

B. Training 

1. Adult Citizenship Education Training Seminars*: USCIS will expand its adult citizenship education 

training by ofering seminars for external stakeholders connected to agencies from across the 

NWG. These seminars will be targeted for adult citizenship educators and community-based 

organizations that serve LPRs, and persons who are not yet LPRs such as farmworkers, adult 

adoptees, refugees, and asylees. The seminars will address the naturalization process and test, as 

well as instructional strategies in adult citizenship education. The training will highlight the USCIS 

adult citizenship education curriculum for organizations which are interested in starting an adult 

citizenship education program. 

2. Outreach to Military Service Members: DHS/USCIS will create a special military naturalization 

webpage on the Citizenship Resource Center containing information, checklists, and study 

guides tailored to military members and their families. DOD will share the link with its personnel 

worldwide. DOD will explore expanding its internal communications eforts regarding the 

opportunity to apply and the requirements for naturalization. DHS/USCIS will explore ofering 

additional special naturalization education and awareness information webinars for administrative 

and legal personnel assisting military service members. Additionally, DHS/USCIS will consider 

alternative avenues to engaging and processing naturalization applications for our military 

members and their families overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic and while travel restrictions 

are in place. Through its Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, the DOJ Civil Rights Division will 

help disseminate naturalization information via its website (www.servicemembers.gov), in its 

outreach materials to military bases, and its military related networks (including chiefs of military 

legal assistance, and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for 

Military Personnel). Additionally, DHS/USCIS will engage with VA and veteran service organizations 

to discuss opportunities to educate service members and veterans on citizenship. 

3. Informational Webinars for NWG Agencies*: DHS/USCIS will expand engagement with other 

federal agencies to provide webinars to counterpart agencies and their networks on citizenship, 

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building upon the cooperation that USCIS and the HHS/ORR have begun. 

C. Citizenship Education Materials and Promotional Videos 

1. Naturalization Test Preparation Tools*: DHS/USCIS will explore the creation of apps and other 

tools to support preparation for the citizenship test, including expanded use of materials in other 

languages and alternative formats, such as large print. 

2. Monuments and Landmarks Videos: DHS/USCIS will explore the feasibility of working with 

federal partners and their multimedia staf to develop short video segments featuring American 

landmarks, buildings, and historical locations relevant to the 2008 version of the naturalization 

civics test5. Some video ideas include a “Tour of the U.S. Capitol,” “Tour of Ellis Island,” or “Tour 

of the Lincoln Memorial.” These video segments could be shared online via websites and through 

various social media platforms or played at outreach events or waiting areas (such as USCIS ofices) 

for promotional purposes. 

3. Videos Featuring Senior Administration Oficials: DHS/USCIS will explore the feasibility of 

promotional videos or short social media segments with Senior Administration Oficials. This 

could include Cabinet members who have their own immigrant experience, as well as the First 

Lady or Vice President Harris. For example, Dr. Biden, who continues to work as an English and 

writing instructor, could encourage immigrants to learn English, which is a key requirement in the 

naturalization process, and could engage with community colleges on promoting citizenship. She 

could also encourage receiving communities to volunteer to help new immigrants integrate into 

local communities. Additionally, as a daughter of immigrants, Vice President Harris could highlight 

her family’s immigration journey that ultimately paved the way for the Vice President to serve in her 

current role. 

4. Existing Educational Videos*: Current educational videos and other targeted outreach materials, 

including videos related to Avoiding Scams, could also be shared with public schools, libraries, and 

distributed to parents of children in English as a Second Language special programs, to direct them 

to immigration resources. The USDA Rural Housing Services’ (RHS’) Community Facilities Program 

provides financing for childcare facilities, schools, healthcare centers, and more. RHS can explore 

promoting these materials to community facilities like these in rural areas. 

5 In November 2020, USCIS announced a new version of the civics test that would apply to all naturalization applicants filing on or afer 

December 1, 2020. In response to stakeholder concerns about the new test, USCIS has phased out the 2020 civics test and has reverted to the 

2008 version. 

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