FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008

Media Contact: Maura Saavedra, 602-252-2653

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Congressman Pastor's citizenship drive Saturday will help 100 legal residents apply for U.S. citizenship

on National Make A Difference Day

WHO: Organized by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., with more than 60 community volunteers, including local attorneys.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Rep. Pastor will not be present due to his campaign schedule.

WHAT: On National Make a Difference Day, and as part of an ongoing effort by Rep. Ed Pastor to help legal residents become U.S. citizens, volunteers will assist more than

100 eligible permanent residents in completing their U.S. citizenship (N-400) applications to be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The assistance is a free community service organized by Rep. Ed Pastor and provided to eligible legal permanent residents of Arizona.

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

***LOCATION IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 1 P.M. SATURDAY TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM SHOWING UP WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS***

Location: Gymnasium at Udall Elementary School, 3715 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix.

ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE FULL - NO WALK-INS WILL BE TAKEN.

To be placed on a waiting list, people may phone 602-256-0551.

The individuals who will receive assistance Saturday have been screened to assure they qualify for U.S. citizenship, and all appointments are full. Individuals

interested in receiving assistance in the future may phone Congressman Pastor's office at 602-256-0551 and ask to be placed on a waiting list for future citizenship

events.

WHY: Since the mid-1990s, Rep. Pastor has held naturalization workshops to encourage eligible permanent, legal residents to apply for their U.S. citizenship and embrace the

benefits that come along with U.S. citizenship. Many permanent residents have not applied for U.S. citizenship because they are intimidated or overwhelmed by the application process, and this workshop will help ease the process by providing trained volunteers who will help participants complete the application and answer their questions.