Lake County workshops aim to help hundreds of permanent residents

If you are among 1.9 million legal permanent residents in the United States whose green cards don't have an expiration date, it may be time to replace them or think of filing for citizenship.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services announced in late August it proposes to make that action mandatory. Though the proposal has not been adopted, the public comment period has elapsed. Immigrants advocates anticipate a final ruling any day.

Workshops are planned Saturday and Sunday in Cicero, Round Lake and Waukegan to help those permanent residents renew their green cards.

Advocates say these residents shouldn't wait, as there may be legal ramifications if they miss the filing period, or have complications, such as a police record for traffic violations and misdemeanors.

Government officials anticipate 750,000 people nationwide will apply to renew their cards. Tens of thousands of Chicago area immigrants may be affected. They include people of Latino, Chinese, Polish and Indian origin.

The workshops target the Latino community, but immigrants from all ethnic backgrounds will be served, said Julie Santos, co-chair for United Voices for United Families Campaign, a national movement advocating for mixed-status families.

"Right now, our outreach does not extend beyond the Latino community," Santos said. "We've offered this in English and Spanish. The doors are open to anyone.

A majority of the permanent residents affected got their green cards through an amnesty program in the late 1980s. At the time, Illinois, and particularly Lake and McHenry counties, attracted a lot of agricultural workers from Mexico, said Margaret Carrasco, Waukegan chapter president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Bilingual volunteers and attorneys will be on hand this weekend to help with renewal applications and provide legal advice. The workshops are 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Round Lake Sports Center, 2400 Municipal Way; 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at 25 N. County, Waukegan; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at LULAC of Cicero, 2135 S. Laramie.

Permanent residents are asked to bring information on any criminal or police record.