Seattle PI: Nineteen become U.S. citizens: ‘The heart of our country — immigrants!’

Nineteen newly sworn-in U.S. citizens, from 14 countries, were feted in welcoming speeches, essays and poetry on Tuesday at a Flag Day citizenship ceremony and celebration at Seattle City Hall. The most eloquent words came from three fifth graders, finalists in a statewide essay contest with the theme: “Why I’m Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants.” All displayed a …

The Seattle Times: Trump’s harsh talk pushes local immigrants to ‘speak up’ and vote

In Washington state, the number of legal immigrants seeking help applying for citizenship is up significantly, said Sarah Sumadi of the immigrant-rights organization OneAmerica. The group partners with organizations around the state to hold free one-day workshops to help applicants with the legal requirements and extensive paperwork required to become citizens. It typically takes about five months for the federal …