Paterson, NJ

The City of Paterson is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and immigrant-friendly Paterson.  By 2014, according to Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, Paterson had fifty-two (52) distinct ethnic groups. The City’s rapidly growing Bangladeshi, Turkish, Arab, Palestinian, Albanian, Dominican, and Peruvian communities are among the largest and most prominent in the United States.  The City of Paterson has expanded its efforts to promote and support naturalization among its eligible residents. The City’s Free Public Library offers English as a second language (ESL) classes. Paterson has hosted several naturalization events. Recently, the City partnered with organizations to provide naturalization encouragement and support; specifically, the City partnered with the Passaic County Community College, NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Make the Road NJ, Garden State Paralegal Services, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  The Paterson Multicultural U.S. Citizenship Campaign provided City residents with eligibility screenings, information about the naturalization application, assistance with completing the application and the fee waiver/partial fee waiver form, and legal services free of charge.  Residents were also provided with resources to assist them in preparing for the citizenship exam and interview. The City of Paterson is proud to partner with C4C and other likeminded cities.