“Welcome home to our country’s 21 newest citizens!”
That was the message from New York State Senator Dean Murray as 21 residents officially became United States citizens during the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library’s annual Celebration of Citizenship, highlighting a local program that has helped hundreds of immigrants navigate the naturalization process.
According to library officials, the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library’s Project Literacy program has assisted 251 immigrants in becoming American citizens.
The initiative provides free citizenship preparation classes, one-on-one informational appointments, interview practice sessions and study materials to eligible lawful permanent residents seeking to complete the naturalization process.
"I was delighted to help congratulate them and hear their inspiring stories. A big thank you to the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library for their fantastic Community Literacy Program. To date they have helped 251 immigrants become American Citizens," said Senator Murray.
The library’s citizenship preparation classes are offered through its Literacy Department and are designed to help green card holders prepare for the U.S. citizenship interview and civics examination.
Classes are held at William Floyd High School and are available in English and, for eligible participants, Spanish.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano also attended the ceremony and emphasized the importance of legal immigration and citizenship education.
“I had the opportunity to attend the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library’s Celebration of Citizenship, where twenty-one new residents within my Assembly District officially became American citizens,” DeStefano said. “The M.M.S. Community Library runs a program titled Project Literacy that provides citizenship preparation classes for individuals seeking to gain American citizenship the right way. And these twenty-one new American citizens have now graduated.”
Library officials said the citizenship program remains available to eligible residents throughout the William Floyd School District who are pursuing naturalization through legal channels.