What it costs to become a U.S citizen — in both time and money – Houston Public Media

The immigration debate has been a hot topic since our country's founding, and today we find ourselves in a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration with ICE raids making headlines daily.

However, many immigrants do come to America legally looking for a better life, but becoming a U.S. citizen is difficult. The process takes years, is not open to everyone, and costs a lot in both time and money. In fact, according to the Houston Endowment, as of 2023, fewer than 10 percent of Houstonians eligible to become naturalized citizens actually complete the process.

In an interview with Houston Matters host Craig Cohen, immigration attorney Ruby Powers and Cesar Espinoza of FIEL Houston discuss what all the process entails.