Donald Trump Immigration News: Millions Of Mexican Immigrants Urged To Apply For US Citizenship

Carlos Sada Solana, the Mexican ambassador to the United States, made an urgent plea for Mexican immigrants living abroad to apply for citizenship ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, in an interview with Mexican state news agency Notimex Tuesday afternoon. The ambassador noted there are currently millions of Mexican immigrants currently eligible for citizenship in the U.S. who have yet to apply for a variety of reasons.

Solana’s message for Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. comes as President-elect Trump begins filling his White House Cabinet team with immigration reform hardliners like Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s pick for Attorney General, as well as Stephen Bannon, the controversial executive for the conservative news outlet Breitbart chosen as Trump’s chief strategist. Trump has most recently vowed to deport up to three million undocumented immigrants, causing concern among activists who told International Business Times they were worried over where the president-elect was receiving those staggering rates from.

Meanwhile, an estimated 2.6 million Mexican immigrants live in a state of limbo throughout the U.S., in many cases being legally eligible to apply for citizenship but instead remain as permanent citizens or on temporary visas. Those immigrants could see many freedoms extended to them under the current White House administration reversed under Trump.

"It's one of the very important protection actions to become citizens, because then they're no longer subject to deportation processes and on the other hand, they don't lose Mexican citizenship," the ambassador told Notimex. "The best we can do is inform ourselves and be conscious about our situation, and to know that in the consulates we have personnel that is dedicated specifically to the subject of protection."

Solana said his office will extend the hours of operations for Mexico’s consular network, the largest of any country represented throughout the U.S., ahead of Inauguration Day in an effort to educate as many Mexican immigrants of their rights as possible. Mexican immigrants are currently some of the least likely lawful permanent residents, otherwise known as green card holders, to apply for citizenship, though the requirements are mostly simple.

Green card holders must have a basic understanding of U.S. history, speak English, permanently reside in the country and be over the age of 18.