Library offers naturalization test prep
By Shane Gomez
Green-card holders and other residents hoping to become United States citizens can turn to George Mason Regional Library for help.
The library is offering free drop-in preparation for the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization test. The weekly sessions started last week and run through Aug. 29.
The U.S. naturalization process involves an interview and a two-part test in English and civics. The civics test asks applicants 10 questions about U.S. government and history from a list of 100. At least six must be answered aloud correctly to pass.
Annandale resident Eileen McLaughlin has volunteered to lead the preparation sessions at George Mason Library for the past three years. Since then, 15 of her students have become citizens, she said.
Since the sessions are held during weekdays, just one or two people typically drop in. McLaughlin provides students with a binder, while supplies last, containing all questions, flash cards, a copy of the U.S. Constitution, and a study guide.
Other Fairfax County libraries, including the ones in Chantilly and the City of Fairfax, also offer citizenship classes, but they require registration and regular attendance.
Becoming a citizen has become more urgent for immigrations, as the Trump administration has launched the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, which has indiscriminately swept up immigrants with legal status or no criminal history. Annandale and Culmore have become hotbeds of ICE activity.
Related story: ICE arrests people at the Annandale Immigration Court
Total numbers and specific details about deportations are unavailable, leaving only word of mouth and uncertainty. The 22003 zip code in Annandale has a 37 percent foreign-born population, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
McLaughlin was a Fairfax County teacher for 32 years, including a stint as a special education teacher at Annandale High School. Her goal for the library program is to help attendees “gain knowledge about our government, to help them pass the test so that they can become citizens.”
She also helps them with writing, reading, vocabulary, and understanding the naturalization process.
“It’s a very rewarding volunteer position. The students are very grateful for the help, and they show it in different ways. Last week, they brought me flowers,” said McLaughlin. “It’s stuff like that that makes a salary unnecessary. So, I love doing this.”
Shane Gomez is Annandale Today’s summer intern.
In today’s political climate where immigrants aren’t being shown a welcome mat, many still want to fulfill their dream of coming U. S. citizens thankfully there are good hearted people who like Ms. McLaughlin volunteer in helping to make their dreams come true. United States a nation of immigrants, let’s keep it that way.