Latest news with #FastTracktoCitizenship
Miami Herald
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami to offer free citizenship classes for immigrants after feds cut funding
Miami residents will have access to free citizenship classes again after the federal government cut funding for a program that's helped thousands of immigrants prepare for their naturalization exams. On Monday, Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado announced that his office would allocate up to $10,000 to subsidize Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Fast Track to Citizenship courses, offered through the school district's adult education program. Earlier this month, the Miami Herald reported that Miami-Dade County Public Schools would stop offering the courses after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determined the program 'no longer effectuates the program goals and the Department's priorities,' making it so that all federally funded work under the grant 'will be unallowable.' READ MORE: Miami-Dade school district ends citizenship classes for immigrants after federal cuts 'This is much more than just about funding a program,' Rosado said at a press conference Monday. 'It's about living our values as Americans and as Miamians. It's about living the values of opportunity and the belief that Miami's variety is our strength.' The course, which supports lawful permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship, includes help with the 20-page naturalization application and preparation for the exam. Citizenship preparation courses have been taught through Miami-Dade schools in some form since at least the 1970s. The Fast Track to Citizenship courses were previously funded by the state before they were funded by the federal government. Rosado said his office would allocate up to $10,000, based on an estimate that approximately 150 people apply per year for a course that costs up to $65. He said that should be enough to keep the program running for another year. Rosado said his office has been in contact with the school district about his initiative. For now, the funding will only be available for residents in the city of Miami, where about 58% of residents are foreign born and more than 70% are Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Rosado said it will go into effect in the fall, when the current grant is set to run out, but that he would work to make the funding available sooner if there's a shortfall. Rosado's announcement landed weeks after the city voted to enter an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE, deputizing Miami police officers with immigration enforcement powers. The commission voted 3-2 to enter into what's called a 287(g) agreement; Rosado was one of the three who voted in favor. Mayor Francis Suarez said the citizenship program has 'a clear track record of providing an important service to our community' but that it 'became a victim of funding cuts to Miami-Dade County public schools.' 'This financial investment will guarantee that those who are already on a pathway to citizenship will not face any obstacles in achieving that dream,' Suarez said. To apply for the program, Rosado said Miami residents can call (305) 558-8000 or go to In March, when the federal government announced it was ending funding for the Fast Track to Citizenship classes through Miami-Dade County Public Schools' adult education program, four locations continued to offer separate citizenship classes through the district's continuing education program. The school district told the Herald those citizenship courses will continue. But the courses are fee-based and can be expensive depending on the number of students who enroll. Students split the cost of teachers' salaries and materials based on the number of students. When the Herald first reported that the district was offering fee-based courses, there was no information on its website or social media, and the district said interested students had to show up in person at the locations to express interest and enroll.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade schools ends citizenship classes for immigrants after federal cuts
Miami-Dade County Public Schools will no longer offer citizenship courses that have helped thousands of immigrants prepare for the naturalization exam and learn about American history and culture. The courses, called Fast Track to Citizenship, previously available through the district's Adult Education program, supported lawful permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. They included help with the 20-page naturalization application and preparation for the exam. Initially free, the program later charged a $43 fee per trimester. The district's 2025 curriculum still lists Fast Track to Citizenship as an available offering at eight locations, including The English Center, adult education centers in Miami Beach and Hialeah, and Miami Coral Park's Adult and Continuing Education Centers. But now, when someone calls to ask about enrolling, the operator says, 'Unfortunately, we don't have citizenship classes anymore. They cut the funding.' An internal email shared with the Miami Herald revealed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determined the program 'no longer effectuates the program goals and the Department's priorities.' As a result, all federally funded work under the grant 'will be unallowable.' Despite the federal cutbacks, district officials gave mixed signals about whether some kind of citizenship class would be offered. A spokesperson confirmed the citizenship classes through the adult technical colleges had been canceled for the fall but said they may offer classes at some schools 'if there was enough interest.' But so far, no information about a replacement course or how much it would cost is listed on the district's website. They also noted that in recent years, enrollment numbers had been low. Citizenship preparation courses have been taught through Miami-Dade schools in some form since at least the 1970s. Citizenship as a lifeline for new arrivals For many, the school district's citizenship courses were life-changing. Liena Perdomo immigrated from Cuba at 18 and enrolled in English reading and writing courses and a citizenship class at The English Center, a district-run adult education site founded in the 1960s to serve South Florida's refugee population. Perdomo, now 41, holds an engineering degree from Florida International University and runs a public adjuster firm. She credits her early education at The English Center for shaping her path. 'People like me, we don't know anything about this country when we come here — it teaches us a lot,' she said. 'Every class that I took in that little school pushed me to where I have been able to get in the end.' 'I would say if they don't have that class anymore, it's really like a big loss.' For more than a decade, Miami-Dade County Public Schools partnered with Catholic Legal Services, under the Archdiocese of Miami, to help students in the citizenship courses prepare their applications. Students would either visit Catholic Legal Services' offices or receive help directly in the classroom. Randy McGrorty, who has led Catholic Legal Services since its founding in 1998, said the collaboration combined legal support with accessible education. 'I am absolutely convinced individuals prepping for citizenship know more about civics than many U.S. citizens,' he said. McGrorty estimates that at least half a million lawful permanent residents nationwide are eligible for citizenship but haven't applied due to fear of the exam. The process — including the length and complexity of the application — can be daunting. These courses helped students feel prepared. 'If you take that class, you pass,' said Gemma Santos, a former teacher of the course. McGrorty noted that under President George W. Bush, the Department of Homeland Security saw naturalization support as part of its mission. 'It is my hope that we will again re-prioritize people's naturalization,' he said. Studies show, he added, that naturalized citizens tend to earn more and pay more in taxes — a net gain for the country. 'A betrayal' Carlos Manrique, who directed the district's adult and workforce education program for 26 years and served as a Republican legislator on the state education committee, said the courses were largely funded by federal dollars, with occasional support from English as a Second Language grants. He called the cancellation 'a betrayal.' 'These students are legal. Their kids are legal. They are getting blamed. I think it's completely disrespectful at any level,' he said. Rene Mantilla, who currently oversees adult and technical education programs for the district, declined to comment. Other administrators also declined or did not respond. Santos, a retired citizenship instructor who still substitutes at The English Center, said the course covered far more than test prep — it taught about U.S. history, national holidays, basic geography and how to participate in civic life by volunteering or writing letters to the editor. But the support for immigrants, she said, is now vanishing. 'If you don't know how to swim, we will not give you a life vest — just drown, sorry,' she said.
