NEW YORK (TIP): Welcoming introduction of US Citizenship Act of 2021, Commissioner Bitta Mostofi said that the bill would create a pathway to citizenship for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, most of whom have been long-standing, essential members of our communities. The bill also places a strong emphasis on the integration of immigrants through increasing access to citizenship, strengthening labor protections, addressing naturalization and other backlogs, expanding access to counsel, providing grants for legal services, expanding caps on immigration, and other important steps on immigration action. “As the ultimate city of immigrants, New York City has always known that immigrants are essential. The U.S. Citizenship Act is the bold action we need to rebuild an immigration system that is consistent with our values. It’s also essential to meet the needs of our communities, keep families together, and ensure an equitable pandemic recovery. We applaud the Biden administration for taking this crucial step and urge Congress to expeditiously pass the U.S. Citizenship Act to bring long overdue relief to our immigrant families and communities. As we celebrate the introduction of the U.S Citizenship Act, we also urge New Yorkers to beware of scams. There has not yet been any change in law, which means there is no new visa or application to fill out. To connect with City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help, New Yorkers can call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To report immigration fraud, call the New York State Office for New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636.” New York City is home to over 8.6 million people, including more than 3.1 million immigrants. Immigrant New Yorkers speak over 200 languages, own over half of our small businesses, and are integral to our ability to thrive as a city.