Latinos Ready to Vote - Thousands of New Conservative Voters will be Eligible in 2012

Fellow TexasGOPVote blogger and immigration attorney, Linda Vega is following a dream. A patriotic dream of helping to create new American citizens and Conservative voters! The common misconception about the new Hispanic voters is that they will or would become Democrats. This is not, and does not have to be true. Vega is working with a group called "Latinos Ready to Vote!" The organization has been conducting forums designed to help legal permanent residents make the transition into US Citizenship while reinforcing the knowledge of conservatism and family values that are consistent with the Republican voters in America. With nearly 1,000,000 people eligible to become citizens in Texas alone, this project could have an interesting impact on the 2012 elections.

Linda Vega discusses US Citizenship and Conservative values at a recent Citizenship Forum

Becoming a U.S. Citizen is a coveted dream for many Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs). They must wait three to five years in order to apply for the “invitation” to be tested by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Additionally, they must pay a fee of $680.00, learn English enough to pass an exam (that includes the history and political process of the U.S.), and they must not have a criminal record that renders them ineligible. This is the sifter process. The applicants who eventually do pass the English exam and become U.S. Citizens now have the capacity to vote in the U.S. These new Citizens are the much coveted vote in 2012, at least from the Latino Community. It is much easier to create these NEW conservative voters than it is to convert the already existing Latino voters.

LATINOS READY TO VOTE! was organized Linda Vega, who also practices Immigration Law. This is the process of LEGAL Immigration that many in the media confuse the public with illegal immigration. Vega sees the Latino community as a conservative niche of new voters. In fact, the idea of Creating new Conservative Voters is the key to the survival of the Republican Party, according to Ms. Vega and many other Republican members. The Goal of these citizenship forums is to promote naturalization for Legal Permanent Residents in Latino Immigrant Communities. Consequently, it is to inform Latinos, eligible to become citizens, about the benefits and responsibilities of becoming citizens. This includes participating in the civic process so as to ensure that they, as Americans citizens, have an equal access and legal political rights in being representation in all branches of state and federal government.

Ms. Vega said, "As we understand that the Latino community is strong in their faith, it is through this avenue that we would like to connect with them. Thus, we are meeting them in the area where they are most comfortable and are likely to understand that we are there to assist them and have their best interest in mind." She continued, "In the forums, we will fill out the applications of those Permanent Residents who are ready to become citizens (Permanent Residents with no criminal record). While there will be no charge to fill out the form, those willing to apply will be responsible for the application fee that is $680.00."

According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are over 900,000, that is close to 1 million, Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) eligible to become U.S. Citizens in Texas. That is a staggering number. These LPRs are those currently living in the U.S., working, paying taxes and enjoying the benefits of a U.S. Citizen except that they are not eligible to be heard in the political process, because they cannot vote. In order to be eligible to become a Citizen, these LPRs must have been a Resident for at least five years, (three if you married a U.S. Citizen under a year), or are a child under the age of 18 years of an LPR. While these rules and restrictions might seem too simple to understand on the onset, they are very difficult to apply and accomplish.

The main idea is to naturalize those Legal Permanent Resident quickly. These forums work best after mass or church service. The families are usually together at this time and it does not interfere with the family’s work schedule. During this time, the people are informed about the benefits of becoming U.S. Citizens because prior to these change in their status, they have been workers paying taxes without having a voice or a vote. Whether they are eligible to become citizens or in some cases many are already Citizens and are not aware, the goal is to encourage all of them to participate in the community by progressing in educational institutions, become entrepreneurs, and participate in the political process by voting.

As you know that the future of many of the young students is uncertain. We want to give as many Latinos in the community to come forward and inform themselves about their rights and their eligibility to participate in these forums. These forums have been successful in creating a new hope and reinventing the Latino community in the U.S. It is a project that is capturing the attention of many political candidates who need the Conservative Latino vote for their Victory. It is the right horse that is about to change the way we elect all of our public officials.

More information on this project can be found online at latinosreadytovote.wordpress.com